Utilizing a combination of the industry consensus rankings, just who are the top safeties set to blanket offenses across the college football world? The top 2024 Safety Rankings are an interesting mix of players from all over the country.
Class of 2024 SAF Rankings
We’ve seen the Safety Class of 2024 under the microscope for years. Now, with Early Signing Day rapidly approaching, who are the top safeties in this year’s recruiting class, and where are they headed?
In our rankings below, we utilize a combination of rankings from the big four recruiting websites: 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals.
1) KJ Bolden, Buford High School
College: Georgia
Hometown: Buford, GA
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195
247 Position Rank: 1
On3 Position Rank: 1
ESPN Position Rank: 1
Rivals Position Rank: 1
Consensus Rank: 1
The unanimous top safety in this class, KJ Bolden is an elite athlete on the football field. Boasting elite range with his track-level speed, Bolden can be a deep safety that erases entire areas of the field. Bolden has the athleticism to play deep, outside corner, or in the slot.
The Georgia native flipped his commitment on Early Signing Day from Florida State to in-state Georgia Bulldogs.
2) Xavier Filsaime, McKinney High School
College: Texas
Hometown: McKinney, TX
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 180
247 Position Rank: 2
On3 Position Rank: 2
ESPN Position Rank: 2
Rivals Position Rank: 3
Consensus Rank: 2
Another superb athlete on the backend, Filsaime has also played wide receiver in his high school career, and it shows. Filsaime boasts great speed and explosiveness to make plays in coverage and cover ground in a hurry. Despite his 180-pound frame, he’s not afraid to be physical in run support, either.
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The Texas Longhorns flipped the former Florida Gators commit on Tuesday before Early Signing Day. Florida has a rich history of defensive back play, and Filsaime projects as the next great one, but with a new DB coach in town, they were unable to keep him committed before Early Signing Day.
3) Kobe Black, Connally High School
College: Texas
Hometown: Waco, TX
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
247 Position Rank: 4
On3 Position Rank: 4 (CB)
ESPN Position Rank: 3 (CB)
Rivals Position Rank: 2 (CB)
Consensus Rank: 3
Kobe Black is ranked as both a safety and a cornerback, depending on the site, but can play either at the collegiate level. Black has the size and frame to hold up outside at corner and also played basketball and ran track, showing his athleticism.
Whether he is at corner or safety, Black has shown the athletic ability, ball skills, and range to be one of the top defensive backs out of this recruiting class.
4) Zavier Mincey, Mainland High School
College: Uncommitted
Hometown: Daytona Beach, FL
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 180
247 Position Rank: 6
On3 Position Rank: 5 (CB)
ESPN Position Rank: 4
Rivals Position Rank: 17 (CB)
Consensus Rank: 4
One of the best safeties in the country has yet to commit but has narrowed down his final list to Florida, Alabama, Florida State, and Miami. Mincey is a three-sport athlete who boasts the length, fluidity, and range to stick either at corner or safety. Where he lines up will ultimately depend on the team, but his upside at the next level is sky-high.
5) Demello Jones, Swainsboro High School
College: Georgia
Hometown: Swainsboro, GA
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 176
247 Position Rank: 7
On3 Position Rank: 8 (CB)
ESPN Position Rank: 3
Rivals Position Rank: 4 (ATH)
Consensus Rank: 5
Another three-sport athlete on this list, Jones is a smooth athlete on the field, playing quarterback, running back, defensive back, and wide receiver for Swainsboro. He has the competitiveness and athleticism to stick at any position at the collegiate level, and his basketball background pops with his ball skills and coordination.
Georgia loves finding players like this and had one right in their backyard. His ceiling as a playmaker is high, and he should stick well in the collegiate ranks.
6) Zaquan Patterson, Chaminade-Madonna Prep
College: Miami (FL)
Hometown: Hollywood, FL
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185
247 Position Rank: 5
On3 Position Rank: 3
ESPN Position Rank: 8
Rivals Position Rank: 2
Consensus Rank: 6
Patterson is a real thumper of a safety despite his 185-pound frame. He flies downhill with abandon and lays the wood on opposing players. At worst, he looks like an excellent special teamer, blocking several punts and kicks throughout his high school career.
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As he continues to fill out his frame, Patterson can grow into one of the best strong safeties in college football.
7) Aaron Flowers, Forney High School
College: Oregon
Hometown: Forney, TX
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190
247 Position Rank: 9
On3 Position Rank: 5
ESPN Position Rank: 13 (CB)
Rivals Position Rank: 6
Consensus Rank: 7
A two-way defensive back who plays both outside corner and safety, Flowers is the style of safety Oregon has had tremendous success developing. Flowers is long and rangy out in space and has plus ball skills, making him a natural free safety at the next level.
Flowers is eerily similar to former Oregon star Jevon Holland with his ability to play at deep safety or drop down and play in the slot with his fluidity and quickness.
8) Dashawn McBryde, Denham Springs High School
College: LSU
Hometown: Denham Springs, LA
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 200
247 Position Rank: 3
On3 Position Rank: 4
ESPN Position Rank: 9
Rivals Position Rank: 17
Consensus Rank: 8
A 6’2 200 200-pound track star, McBryde uses that elite range and size to his advantage, developing into a true ball hawk. McBryde also played wide receiver as a senior, showcasing his excellent playmaking as a two-way player. As a junior, McBryde set a program record with nine interceptions.
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LSU has had excellent safety play seemingly every year for a decade, and McBryde looks to be the next in line to continue that tradition.
9) Peyton Woodyard, St. John Bosco High School
College: Alabama
Hometown: Bellflower, CA
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 188
247 Position Rank: 21
On3 Position Rank: 7
ESPN Position Rank: 6
Rivals Position Rank: 4
Consensus Rank: 9
A versatile safety who can play deep, in the slot, or in the box, Woodyard is an instinctive and smart defensive back who isn’t afraid to come up and play the run. While he doesn’t boast the same caliber of speed as others on this list, Woodyard makes up for it with good ball skills and IQ in coverage.
Alabama managed to flip Woodard away from the Georgia Bulldogs. Ideally, Woodyard slides in as a strong safety who can play run support in the box and cover tight ends and slot receivers, an archetype Alabama has enjoyed plenty of success with.
10) Koi Perich, Lincoln Secondary
College: Minnesota
Hometown: Esko, MN
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195
247 Position Rank: 8
On3 Position Rank: 6
ESPN Position Rank: 23
Rivals Position Rank: 19
Consensus Rank: 10
Perich is another track star to make this list, posting an elite 10.89-second mark in the 100 meters as a junior along with a very strong 42-6 foot triple jump. Perich is an excellent deep safety, showcasing an excellent blend of range, instincts, and ball skills to make play after play on the ball in the open field.
Perich matches that with his run defense, exploding downfield in run support, and isn’t afraid to bring the heat when flying downhill. Minnesota has always had strong defensive back play, and Perich will look to join Antoine Winfield Jr as a recent Gopher DB to get drafted high.
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