FSU 5-star safety commit KJ Bolden showcases versatility in season-opener

Buford (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ prospect KJ Bolden may be committed to Florida State as a defensive back, but the elite athlete proved once again in his season-opener on Friday night that he can excel on both sides of the football.

Bolden, along with Georgia Five-Star Plus+ quarterback commit Dylan Raiola, five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston and North Carolina three-star cornerback commit TyShun White, helped Buford blank Oregon four-star QB commit Michael Van Buren and the nationally-ranked Baltimore St. Frances Academy 18-0.

Both Bolden and White were on the receiving end of Raiola touchdown passes, while Bolden also managed an interception that turned into a pick-six — until a penalty brought the play back.

Five-Star Plus+ x2‼️

Georgia QB commit Dylan Raiola hits FSU commit KJ Bolden for the touchdown strike🎯

(🎥: @ChadSimmons_) https://t.co/ab9tGXJsar

pic.twitter.com/cJNLUavMrX

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) August 19, 2023

Tempers flared between the two teams at the end of the game, resulting in a brawl occurring on the St. Frances sideline. The matchup between the high-profile programs was one of the biggest games in the nation on Friday night.

Bolden is the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He chose Florida State over Auburn and Georgia, committing to the Seminoles on Aug. 5.

“I committed to Florida State for multiple reasons,” Bolden told On3. “Florida State has been my dream school since I was growing up. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to go there. I also really like what Coach Mike Norvell is doing with the program.

…He has changed the program around a lot. Right after Coach Willie Taggart left, Coach Norvell told me he would turn things around. Now Florida State is one of the top teams in the country and he has done exactly what he told me he would do years ago.”

Bolden has an On3 NIL Valuation of $435K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

KJ Bolden scouting summary

“One of more versatile athletes in the 2024 cycle with considerable upside as a safety. Measured in at 6-foot, 185 pounds prior to his senior season. Has good length with 32-inch arms. Posted strong track marks as a high school underclassman with a personal best of 10.76 seconds in the 100 meters. Also tests well in the combine setting. Plays both ways for Georgia powerhouse Buford High as a receiver and defensive back. Projects as a defensive back and likely at safety long-term, where his combination of athleticism and length makes him one of the nation’s best. Flashes outstanding play speed on Friday nights. Closes quickly with physicality in defending the flats. Has shown good deep range in coverage both on Friday nights and in 7-on-7. Played a bunch of offense as a junior. Shows good playmaking ability and overall athleticism on that side. While his ball skills are good for a safety, they would need to improve were he to play offense in college. Has not replicated his impressive track times later in his high school career. Has a relatively smaller sample size relative to some of his highly-touted peers on defense heading into his senior season.”