2024 5-star S KJ Bolden announces top schools

Buford (Ga.) five-star safety KJ Bolden holds more than 40 offers. The 6-foot-0, 185-pound defensive back knows which schools will be under consideration going forward.

Bolden announced his top 15 schools on New Year’s Day. They are Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina, Clemson, Oregon, Ole Miss, USC, Michigan State, Colorado and Oklahoma.

“These schools are the ones that recruited me and took their time to talk to me about more than football, just life in general and how much you can achieve once you get here and things after football and life after football if football doesn’t work out,” Bolden told On3. “These schools mention that heavy. And then, I actually love the coaching staffs of these programs. These schools, right now with their depth charts, I could fit in.”

Of his finalists, Bolden has visited Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina, Clemson, Ole Miss, Michigan State and Oklahoma. The Bulldogs have hosted the five-star 10 times, the most of any school.

The 6-foot-0, 185-pound prospect can play both wide receiver and defensive back. At the moment, where a school projects him is not a major factor in his recruitment. However, Bolden already knows what he wants in a school.

“You make me feel at home, offer me a great education,” said Bolden, the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 safety in the 2024 On3 Consensus. “Say something bad happened, I can do other things than football and have a good life. The team, the way they bond and the way the guys come together and the leadership style over there (are important).

“And then, I’d definitely say the style of play, like the coverages or if I’m playing receiver, how many plays they run definitely plays a (role). And then at the end of the day, my mom. Me and her have been going through this process for a long time by ourselves, so I feel like she does have a little bit of say-so.”

Even though some schools did not make Bolden’s top 15, he is still “all ears to everything.” The five-star plans to cut his list down once again to between five and seven schools in April or May. After taking official visits in the summer, Bolden hopes to be committed by early August.

“It’s been an adventure,” Bolden said about his recruitment.