Defensive backs and tights ends held their media sessions Thursday morning at the 2026 Combine.

The Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly scheduled multiple interviews with defensive backs this week, a position group that seems to be of need. With several top cornerbacks opting out of live drills during the Combine, the interview portion will hold that much more weight in Indianapolis.

Here are some notes and quotes from Thursday morning.

Mansoor Delane, regarded as the top cornerback in this year's draft class, gave a good impression during his media availability.

The All-American spent his first three seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU and racking up a team-high 11 pass deflections his senior season. He also has eight career interceptions and four forced fumbles, citing his physicality as one of the more underrated skills of his game.

"I love tackling, I love being in the box," Delane said. "Being over to bring those attributes over to safety and being a corner makes it easier. A lot of corners might be scared to tackle, but I love that."

Delane said he'll wait until his Pro Day at LSU to do any live drills.

Indiana's cornerback D'Angelo Ponds confirmed he had a formal interview with the Las Vegas Raiders.

He was the Hooisers' defensive superstar during their championship run, racking up 12 solo tackles, three pass deflections and a pick-six in three playoff games played. Additionally, he led the Big Ten in pass deflections with 11.

Ponds mentioned that during his interview with the Raiders, they also asked him questions about quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the possibility of the two college teammates running it back in the desert.

"That would be a blessing honestly, for anybody to draft me," Ponds said.

While Ponds will wait to run the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, he will partake in several drills Friday.

Another cornerback who confirmed he met with the Raiders this week is South Carolina's Brandon Cisse.

After playing two seasons for NC State, Cisse transferred one state down to be a Gamecock. In his junior season he had five pass deflections and one interception. Along with being an explosive cornerback, he has ties with the Raiders' new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, who served in the same role for South Carolina in 2025.

"Intensity, high energy, one of the best coaches I've ever played for," Cisse said about DeCamillis. "No matter how good of a player you are on defense or offense, you going to play special teams and that's one thing I like. And he's really just a good person. ... Great coach and I love him and I hope to see him soon."