Top 10 safeties in the updated 2024 On300 rankings

With the high school football season well underway, many of the top recruits in the nation have already had a chance to prove their worth — and their ranking — on the gridiron. Many elite prospects have also already made their college decisions.

The 2024 cycle features a crop of elite safeties, 19 of whom are top-200 players in On3’s updated 2024 On300 rankings. In total, 38 players at the position currently hold blue-chip status in mid-September.

Below are the top safeties in the On300.

1. KJ Bolden — Florida State

School: Buford (Ga.)
On300 Ranking: No. 16
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. Zay Mincey

School: Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland
On300 Ranking: No. 29
Scouting Summary: “Zay Mincey is a tall, athletic and versatile defensive back with signs that point to a high developmental upside. Measured at over 6-foot-2.5 and around 180 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length with a wing-span over 6-foot-7. Tests as a strong athlete in the combine setting, running an electronically-timed 4.56 second 40-yard dash and posting a 33-inch vertical at Under Armour’s Orlando camp. Primarily lines up at corner for his high school team. Shows good coverage instincts. Undercuts routes to make plays on the ball. Runs well in coverage and stays attached on vertical routes.

…Can flip his hips as a taller defensive back. Uses his length to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and make plays on the ball. Can track and locate the football over his shoulder. A three-sport athlete. Backs up his athleticism in track and field with a 6-4 high jump and 43-foot triple jump. Also plays basketball for a team that made a deep playoff run. Needs to continue adding strength and can improve his tackling. While widely viewed as a safety, could feasibly play as a bump and run cornerback in certain schemes.”

3. Dontae Carter — Vanderbilt

School: Cibolo (Texas) Steele
On300 Ranking: No. 48
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. Malcom Ziglar — North Carolina

School: Fuquay Varina (N.C.)
On300 Ranking: No. 53
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.”

5. Koi Perich — Minnesota

School: Esko (Minn.) Lincoln Secondary
On300 Ranking: No. 58
Scout’s Take: “Minnesota safety commit Koi Perich pairs an outstanding athletic profile with great film as a two-way playmaker,” On3’s Charles Power wrote. “The Esko (Minn.) Lincoln Secondary standout is making impressive plays as a receiver and safety this season, showing impressive play speed and physicality. Also a strong track athlete and above-the-rim basketball player, Perich has a bunch of positive indicators as a prospect.”

6. Xavier Filsaime — Florida

School: McKinney (Texas)
On300 Ranking: No. 61
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.”

7. Dashawn McBryde — LSU

School: Denham Springs (La.)
On300 Ranking: No. 73
Scouting Summary: “Dashawn McBryde is a ball-hawking 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. Tests as a top athlete in the combine setting, running in the 4.5’s and posting a 39-inch vertical at college camps prior to his senior year. Backed that up on the track, posting an 11.15 second mark in the 100 meters, a 23-2 foot long jump and 41-11 foot triple jump as a junior. 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.”

8. Paul Mencke Jr. — Duke

School: Cibolo (Texas) Samuel Clemens
On300 Ranking: No. 76
Scouting Summary: “Paul Mencke Jr is an instinctive safety with some of the best cover skills at the position in the 2024 cycle. Measured in at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds prior to his season. Registers as a solid athlete in the camp setting. Plays both safety and wide receiver at the high school level. Flashed his advanced coverage skills, turning in a standout performance at Under Armour’s Dallas camp. Was able to stick with blue-chip receivers in 1-on-1’s. A smooth mover with a good feel for coverage. Reads the quarterback’s eyes and breaks on routes. Has high-end ball skills for the position. Can continue to ratchet up his physicality and is quicker than fast.”

9. Peyton Morgan — Texas Tech

School: Pflugerville (Texas) Weiss
On300 Ranking: No. 107
About: “The Red Raiders were the first team to extend an offer in the direction on Morgan, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety, who also plays on the offensive side of the ball for Weiss High School. Morgan has visited Lubbock and remained in regular communication with the Texas Tech staff ever since,” On3’s Sam Spiegelman wrote. “Morgan was on hand for the Red Raider’s major in-state recruiting junior day in April and went out West for his first official visit in June.”

“My best relationship is Texas Tech for sure,” Morgan said. “They were my first offer as a sophomore and we’ve been in touch ever since, which is crazy. They’re the real deal.”

10. Aaron Flowers — Oregon

School: Forney (Texas)
On300 Ranking: No. 121
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.”