Michigan Football has added a versatile defensive back in 2027 four-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert, a Cincinnati native whose film shows a player with plenty of ways to impact a defense.
Torbert checks in at 5-foot-10.5 and 173 pounds, and the Rivals Industry Rankings place him 97th overall in his class, 14th among cornerbacks and fourth in Ohio. He starred in football and basketball at Taft High School before transferring up I-75 to Princeton High School for his senior year.
His production last season came on both sides of the ball. Torbert played quarterback and defensive back, throwing for 1,791 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 450 rushing yards and four scores. On defense, he finished with 40 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups.
What stands out first on film is how much he does beyond simply lining up at corner. A lot of his best clips come at quarterback, where he shows he can really sling the rock. But the more translatable traits are the ones that jump out defensively: breakaway speed, feel for the game and a willingness to absorb contact.
There’s a lot of single-high safety action in his tape, and that’s where his instincts show up. Torbert does a good job reading the quarterback’s eyes and reacting to routes breaking inside, toward the boundary or over the top. His fluid hips and closing speed help him get to the ball, and that combination gives him the kind of twitch that lets him play aggressively with a ballhawk lurking behind the action.
Once he gets the ball, Torbert can cover ground in a hurry. Whether he’s picking off a pass or taking off after a quarterback run, his long strides make it tough for defenders to catch him. His vision as a runner also stands out.
He also looks comfortable working closer to the line of scrimmage. Torbert can function as a box safety and doesn’t back down when bigger offensive linemen come rolling toward him. He’s not a punishing tackler, but he can wrap up ball carriers and keep plays from turning into something worse.
The biggest question from the film is the amount of man coverage work. His highlight reel leans heavily on his athleticism and two-way ability, and there just isn’t a ton of man-to-man tape. Still, On3’s Ethan McDowell noted that, “He attended a few national showcases this offseason and showcased strong man-to-man coverage skills as well.”
Even with that limited sample, Torbert looks like he has the tools to develop into an outside corner. He has a low center of gravity, smooth change of direction, clean feet and the football IQ to match. The next step is seeing that side of his game more often.
He doesn’t look like a plug-and-play fit for just one spot. Torbert should get chances to compete for snaps across the secondary, with strong safety likely the one exception. His frame and height appear better suited for corner or free safety work.
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