2025 4-star safety Faheem Delane announces top five schools

Olney (Md.) Good Counsel four-star safety Faheem Delane has established himself as one of the top junior prospects in the country. As he heads into the offseason, the 6-foot-1.5, 200-pound defensive back will be focusing on a select group of programs.

Delane announced a top five of Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech on
Friday. He plans to take official visits to each of these schools in the spring or summer before
announcing his college destination a few weeks before the start of his senior campaign.

“These are definitely schools that offer me the opportunity to play early and definitely will give me the opportunity to develop,” Delane told On3. “These are places where my family and I feel most comfortable and places where I want to change the culture and win.”

The No. 1 player in Maryland has been to each of his finalists except Tennessee, but plans to visit Knoxville in the near future for a bowl practice. Meanwhile, he has traveled to Virginia Tech multiple times, Ohio State four times, LSU three times and Alabama twice. Both the
Buckeyes and the Tigers hosted him for game visits this fall.

Official visits will play a significant role

According to Delane, official visits will play a big role in his decision because of the opportunity to gain a better understanding of a university, its football program and the program’s players and facilities. At the moment, Delane believes that Ohio State and Virginia Tech are recruiting him the hardest, as the Buckeyes reach out to him every day and the Hokies contact him three or four times a week.

Some of the coaches in contact with Delane include LSU safeties coach Kerry Cooks, Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano and Alabama cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has a unique recruiting pitch to Delane, since his brother – Mansoor Delane – currently plays cornerback for the Hokies.

“He has the inside scoop on what happens with day-to-day life and how it really is for the players,” said Delane, the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.

Delane breaks down his top five schools

Alabama: “Coach (Nick) Saban is one of the very few head coaches that really looks at the defensive backs because that’s his group. He’s been working with them for years. He’s a coach who has coached so many great players and he’d give that knowledge to me, so it’s definitely a great opportunity.”

LSU: “They have the history as DBU with players like Jamal Adams and Tyrann Mathieu and the list goes on. That’s what sparked my interest in them, as well as coach (Brian) Kelly going there a few years back. He’s definitely trying to put the program back to where they’re winning national championships. I definitely see them as national contenders.”

Ohio State: “They have an impressive defensive back history and they run a safety-driven defense with three safeties on the field at all times. That provides an opportunity to play and with coach (Jim) Knowles coming from Oklahoma State, they had a great defense over there and this year, Ohio State had one of the best – if not the best – defense. They definitely have something going on for them on the defensive side of the football.”

Tennessee: “They’ve come out to see me a lot. They came out here last spring twice and came out here a few times recently, including a week ago to see me. Coach (Tim) Banks, he likes a versatile defensive back and that’s always something I can do by playing safety, by playing nickel. He lets his safeties be versatile and do many things, so that’s what I like about Tennessee.”

Virginia Tech: “Coach (Brent) Pry – the head coach – he came from Penn State, so he knows what good football is like. The program is definitely on the rise and he’s trying to bring in players to win a national championship, win ACC championships. That’s his goal and I could definitely be a part of a program changer.”