Top 10 safeties in the final 2024 On300 rankings

On3 has released its final recruiting ranking for the 2024 class. This final update comes after the end of the high school playoffs and postseason All-American games, where top prospects across the country faced off in a week of practices and ended with nationally televised games.

These are the top 10 safeties in the final 2024 On300 rankings.

1. KJ Bolden — Georgia signee

School: Buford (Ga.)
On300 Ranking: No. 25
On3 NIL Valuation: $523K

Scouting Summary: “KJ Bolden is 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.”

2. Koi Perich — Minnesota signee

School: Esko (Minn.) Lincoln
On300 Ranking: No. 35
On3 NIL Valuation: $126K

Scouting Summary: “Koi Perich is a hyper-athletic, physical safety with a penchant for making big plays. Looks like one of the nation’s best at the position midway through his senior season. Has unverified size and is listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Registers as a top athlete, posting an elite 10.89 second mark in the 100 meters as a junior along with a very strong 42-6 foot triple jump. A truly dominant high school football player who regularly makes big plays in all three phases. A game-changer at safety, showing the ability to make plays on the ball in coverage. Plays with high-level instincts and ball skills. Shows deep range and a quick break on the ball in defending underneath routes. Triggers quickly against the run. Top-end speed shows up in his ability to close. A physical player who plays with an attitude and edge.

“Explodes into ball carriers, flashing significant striking power. Effective as a blitzer and flies off the edge to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Doubles as a very productive running back, using his athleticism and speed to rip off long runs with regularity. Also makes plays in special teams as a return man. Adds to his sterling athletic profile as a three-sport athlete as a prolific high school basketball player. Shows above-the-rim bounce on the hardwood with the ability to throw down impressive dunks. Does not play top competition and typically the only FBS prospect on the field on Friday nights. Will need to adjust to the significant uptick in competition at the college level, but has a number of positive indicators that point to a high long-term upside.”

3. Dontae Carter — Vanderbilt signee

School: Cibolo (Texas) Steele
On300 Ranking: No. 44
On3 NIL Valuation: $96K

Scouting Summary: “Dontae Carter is a rangy safety prospect with arguably the best ball skills at the position in the 2024 cycle. Measured in at around 6-foot-0.5, 175 pounds prior to his senior season. Has a frame to keep adding weight. Owns outstanding length for the position with arms that measure 33 inches. Had a breakout junior season after missing his sophomore year with an injury. Was initially tabbed as a receiver, but excelled in his first year as a safety. Used his ball skills as a former receiver to turn in elite ball production in 2022, picking off 7 passes and breaking up 7 more in his first year as a defensive back. Primarily lined up at safety. Highly instinctive in coverage. Baits quarterbacks and effectively reads their eyes. Triggers and breaks on the ball quickly to jump passes for interceptions.

“Has continually improved his footwork and has feet that rival cornerback prospects. A natural in zone coverage, but also shows very well in man coverage. Appears to always be around the football. A physical and active run defender. Willing to lower his shoulder and throw his body around. Also forced 3 fumbles as a junior. Registers as a very good athlete, posting a triple jump mark over 46 feet. Will need to continue honing his technique as a defensive back in addition to getting stronger, but his first season at the position is highly encouraging and points to a high ceiling. Has the look of a ballhawking free safety with immense potential.”

4. Aaron Flowers — Oregon signee

School: Forney (Texas)
On300 Ranking: No. 49
On3 NIL Valuation: $162K

Scouting Summary: “Aaron Flowers is a versatile defensive back who lines up at both corner and safety but projects at the latter long-term. Measured at around 6-feet, 180 pounds in the spring prior to his junior season. Has plus length for the position with a 6-foot-4 wing-span. Has high-end agility, consistently posting shuttle times under 4.2 seconds. Displays good range in coverage when working as a two high safety.

“Has the ability to line up in man coverage on the outside or in the slot. Plays with a physical presence as a tackler and run defender, driving through ball carriers. Quicker than fast and can continue to improve his fluidity and lower body flexibility. Younger for the cycle with a spring birthday.”

5. Xavier Filsaime — Texas signee

School: McKinney (Texas)
On300 Ranking: No. 61
On3 NIL Valuation: $304K

Scouting Summary: “Xavier Filsaime is an athletic, physical safety with versatility on the back end. Measured at over 5-foot-11.5, around 180 pounds prior to his junior season. Has average to below average length for the position with a 30.75-inch arm. Turned in very strong track times as a sophomore, with multiple sub-11.0 second marks in the 100 meters, highlighted by a personal best of 10.52 seconds. Primarily worked as a safety as a junior, lining up deep and in the slot. Makes most of his plays as a cover down defender.

“Physical and throws his body around. Shows pop as a striker. Closes quickly when moving forward. Sniffs out quick passes. Plays with some attitude. Has the speed and fluidity to line up on receivers in man coverage. Did not have much ball production as a junior at safety but was a wide receiver as a sophomore, alleviating questions about ball skills. Did not replicate his sophomore track times as a junior. Younger for the class with an April birthday.”

6. Peyton Morgan — Texas Tech signee

School: Pflugerville (Texas) Weiss
On300 Ranking: No. 70
On3 NIL Valuation: $83K

Scouting Summary: “Peyton Morgan is a ball-hawking safety who plays with a physical edge. Measured in at around 6-feet, 170 pounds prior to his senior season. Has average length with 31-inch arms. Primarily lines up as a free safety for his high school. Flashes outstanding deep range, covering from hash to sideline in cover two with ease. Closes in to make plays on vertical routes. Has the ball skills to come down with picks at a high rate. Among the interception leaders in the state of Texas as a senior. Also shows the ability to undercut shallow routes, operating with high level instincts.

“Pairs his coverage playmaking ability with a physical demeanor. Throws his body around as a run defender. Seeks out and initiates contact. More than willing to dole out hits. Registers as a strong athlete in track and field, posting a 44-4 foot triple jump and qualifying for the regional championship in hurdles. Will need to continue adding good mass to his frame, but has one of the more well-rounded skill sets among safeties in the 2024 cycle.”

7. Trajen Greco — Missouri signee

School: Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek
On300 Ranking: No. 73
On3 NIL Valuation: $115K

Scouting Summary: “Trajen Greco is a hyper-instinctual playmaker whose ball skills and cover ability project well as a defensive back. Has unverified size. Looks to be closer to 6-foot-1 than the listed 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. A multi-sport and two-way star at one of the top football programs in Georgia. Lines up at defensive back, receiver and as a return man on Friday nights. A pure football player who excels in many facets. Highly competitive. Has high level ball skills, particularly for a defensive back prospect. Flashed the ball skills while playing more receiver as a senior – caught 41 passes for 549 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final prep campaign. Naturally coordinated. Locates and tracks the ball with ease. A loose, fluid mover. Shows innate instincts in coverage, both as a safety and corner. Sees plays quickly. Recognizes route concepts.

“Played more safety as a senior. Has pure cover skills as a safety prospect, given his experience playing on an island. Ball production registered as elite as a junior, breaking up 17 passes and coming down with five interceptions. A key contributor on a state title team in his junior season in Georgia’s highest classification. Doubles as a star basketball player, as he was region player of the year as a junior. Shows outstanding spatial awareness on the hardwood. Is not an overwhelming athlete, but still looks good in that regard based on film. Not a prolific tackler, but shows the ability to flow downhill and finish with some physicality. Will need to settle into a position at the next level but has the natural skills to be a playmaker in the secondary.”

8. Malcolm Ziglar — North Carolina signee

School: Fuquay Varina (N.C.)
On300 Ranking: No. 102
On3 NIL Valuation: $86K

Scouting Summary: “Malcolm Ziglar is one of the most physically-gifted defensive backs in the 2024 cycle, pairing high-end size, an elite frame and plus speed to manifest in a high upside prospect. Has an ideal physical build with extreme length, a big frame. Lean with significant muscle mass for this stage. Measured at 6-foot-1.5 and over 190 pounds prior to his senior season. Arm length over 33-inches and 10.5-inch hands make for unique dimensions. Pairs that size with very strong marks as a sprinter in track and field. Ran a personal best of 10.79 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. The physical attributes transfer over to the field, where he lines up as a cornerback and safety on Friday nights. Has some of the better ball production among 2024 defensive backs, picking off six passes along with six more pass breakups in 2022.

“Makes opposing quarterbacks pay, feasting on errant throws. Returned three interceptions for scores. Becomes an offensive player on interception returns. Shows palpable play speed with a burst that stands out among his blue-chip peers. Shows an understanding for body positioning in coverage. Boxes out receivers when the ball is in the air. Also sees time on offense as a pass-catcher and ball carrier and is a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Will need to continue increasing his level of physicality, particularly if he ends up as a safety long-term. The physical traits and ball production point to a high upside given continued development and progression as a tackler and physical presence.”

9. Dashawn McBryde — LSU signee

School: Denham Springs (La.)
On300 Ranking: No. 103
On3 NIL Valuation: $163K

Scouting Summary: “Dashawn McBryde is a ballhawking safety who is one of the more physically-gifted prospects at the position in the 2024 cycle. Has a college-ready physique, checking in at a shade under 6-foot-3 and close to 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length with a 33-inch arm. Shined on the track prior to his senior season running 11.09 in the 100m and jumping over 23-feet in the long jump. A big game hunter who came down with nine interceptions as a junior. An imposing physical presence in the secondary. Smooth in his movements.

“Naturally coordinated and easily tracking and high-pointing the ball. Flashes glimpses of physicality. Can improve overall consistency and reliability as a tackler. Takes inconsistent angles. Will benefit from continued experience as he does not always play as fast as he tests athletically. Has one of the highest upsides among safeties in the 2024 cycle, but will need development to approach his high ceiling.”

10. Peyton Waters — Washington signee

School: Los Angeles Birmingham
On300 Ranking: No. 106
On3 NIL Valuation: $86K

Scouting Summary: “Peyton Waters is a two-way star with a high-end combination of coordination, ball skills and athleticism. Has unverified size, listed at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Looks to have good stature and length. Should be able to add a good bit of mass after time in a college strength program.Works as a wide receiver and safety on Friday nights. Being recruited primarily as a defensive back but has the ability to play receiver at a high level as well and would be a blue-chip prospect on either side. An easy, fluid mover who changes directions well. Has twitch in his movements. Shows elite ball skills for a defensive back, drawing on his wide receiver background. Easily tracks and locates the ball in deep coverage. Looks to have very good range. Identifies and triggers quickly as a cover down defender. Active tackler and run defender. Looks to have improved in that area as a senior.

“Good play speed on both sides of the ball. Opens up and covers ground with a long stride. Makes plays after the catch. Looks like the top athlete on the field at all times in his high school games. Flashes quick releases off the line. Strong production in his final two years of high school football. Finished his senior season with 71 catches for 1,150 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for three more scores. Tallied 52 tackles and four interceptions on defense. Also participates in track and field, posting a strong 6-2 foot high jump as a junior. Will need to adjust to the uptick in competition and continue filling out. Older for the cycle, turning 19 years-old in January of his senior year.”