Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden sets commitment date, names top schools

Buford (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden has become one of the most coveted defensive recruits over the last year. While fan bases from several of the nation’s top teams await his decision, they won’t have to wait that much longer.

Bolden tells On3 that he’ll announce his college decision on August 5 choosing between Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State. His decision will be made live on the On3 YouTube Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The 6-foot-0, 185-pounder is the No. 6 overall prospect and No. 1 safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 2 player in Georgia.

Bolden was able to take official visits to three of the five schools in his final five. Florida State hosted him in late June for an unofficial visit and he’s set to take an official to Auburn on Oct. 6. He plans to be on the Plains for Big Cat weekend at the end of July as well.

KJ Bolden breaks down other top contenders

Bolden broke down his top contenders on May 30 when he attended the On3 NIL Elite Series in Nashville.

Alabama: “Coach T-Rob, he’s done a great job of recruiting me. I love Coach Kelly, but ever since T-Rob took over the DBs with Coach Saban. I feel like Coach T-Rob definitely stays on me for sure. He’s one of the top three hardest recruiters I’ve got right now. ‘Bama is just legendary. Who wouldn’t want to play for Coach Nick Saban? He’s one of the best coaches of all-time. So I feel like once you get there, there’s a lot of opportunities to make it to the next level.”

Auburn: “I’m definitely very interested in Auburn. Coach Freeze, I told him when I went up there, ‘Coach I’ve got to see if you can get an OV, I’m not sure yet.’ And he said if you give me and OV, just make sure it’s the last one. That’s how he makes things shake for sure, and I made sure he got that last OV. Freeze and his staff have made Bolden one of their top priorities since they took over, even as other national programs are in pursuit and have been for some time They just really stay communicated, and I knew Auburn was really interested when coaches at my school were talking about Auburn and how bad they want me. When I got down there, the family environment was like no other.

Florida State: “They’re still my dream school. I went down there in the spring, and they laid it out there for me. I had a great time, a time I’ll never forget. Coach Norvell, he broke it down to me that he doesn’t want players who want to come in and just play. He wants players who are going to come in and work for it and build their relationships with their teammates. I want to go back for an OV for a game, maybe before the Auburn game in September.”

Georgia: “They’re just telling me to stay home, join a great class. I feel like they’re trying to build the best class in 2024 for sure. And they’re already starting off hot. And they’re just telling me that I fit in a lot of different ways, schemes, they can fit me in a lot of different positions. I feel like the relationship Coach Kirby has with his players stands out. He’s always hanging out, laughing with them. It’s not just a coach relationship. It’s like you’re one of my friends and my brothers, we can talk on the regular without being so serious.”

Ohio State: “The connection is so strong with my cousin Coach Eliano being the safeties coach. Coach Ryan Day and Coach Tim Walton, they always stay connected with me. And when I go there, I’m always hanging with the guys. And everyone I ask there, I get a great response that Ohio State is definitely the place to be at for sure. I feel like it’s different because of him being family because he can say different things, but I feel like he doesn’t recruit me like coach, it’s definitely like family. I would love to play for my cousin, be coached by one of the greats who coached Sauce Gardner, Coby Bryant, all the guys that came from Cincinnati.”