KJ Bolden: Live commitment announcement from 5-star safety

Decision day has finally arrived for one of the nation’s top prospects in Buford (Ga). Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden. The 6-foot-0, 185-pound defensive back will announce his decision tonight on the On3 Youtube Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Bolden’s decision has come down to Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State.

He is the No. 8 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.

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), it’s a close race at the top between Florida State, Georgia and Auburn. The Bulldogs have the highest odds of landing Bolden’s pledge in the RPM at 35.6%. Florida State sits not too far behind 26.3% and Auburn at 21.1%.

Both Alabama and Ohio State each have just over a 3% chance to land Bolden per the RPM.

“Some are still wondering if this could still change a time or two before KJ Bolden reveals his commitment on Saturday evening,” On3’s Chad Simmons wrote on Aug. 3. “Auburn had Bolden on campus last weekend and the Tigers have come charging up his list over the last few months. Florida State has made a push this summer too. Then you have Georgia, a school that has long been considered the favorite.

…Can Alabama or Ohio State officially be ruled out? No. But the schools with the most buzz around them are the Tigers, Seminoles and Bulldogs. I am hearing the most about Auburn and Georgia late, but this has already changed a few times this week. This will be one I track through Saturday.”

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.”