Top safety signees in the 2025 class

Each of the top 50 safety prospects in the 2025 recruiting class — according to the On3 Industry Ranking — has chosen their next destination. Forty-nine of the 50 have already put pen to paper.

Eight different programs are represented among the top 10 recruits at the position while Florida and Auburn doubled up on elite safety talent this cycle.

Below are where the top safety prospects in the 2025 cycle signed earlier this month:

1. Jonah Williams — Texas

School: Galveston (Texas) Ball
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Jumbo safety prospect with the size, athleticism and playmaking instincts to be a potential queen on the chessboard for defensive coordinators. Has linebacker size with the athleticism of a top defensive back. Measured in at 6-foot-3 ⅛, 206 pounds with 32.25-inch arms at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Registers as a top athlete in the combine setting. A true three-phase playmaker on Friday nights, lining up at safety, wide receiver and as a return man. An easy, fluid mover with a great top gear. Covers ground in a hurry. Shows outstanding range in coverage. Covers from hash to sideline with ease. Has high-level ball skills with the ability to track the football over his shoulder.

“Had four interceptions as a junior along with eight pass breakups. Capable of covering tight ends and receivers out of the slot. Eraser athleticism with his ability to run sideline-to-sideline in pursuit. Has the skill level to be a wide receiver prospect if he wanted. Scored 13 touchdowns on offense as a senior and ran back two kicks in eight games. A two-sport standout, as a talented baseball player who throws 94 MPH as a left-handed pitcher. Physicality is adequate, but not elite even though he showed progress on that front as a senior. Has more of a true free safety skill set despite his size. Missed a chunk of his senior season with a broken collarbone. Rare movement skills and size give him the upside to be a game-changing movable piece at the college and pro level.”

2. Trey McNutt — Oregon

School: Shaker Heights (Ohio)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 31 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Competitive safety who looks like the most well-rounded prospect at the position in the 2025 cycle. Measured at 5-foot-11.5, 183 pounds with 31.5-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior year. A two-way playmaker at the high school level, starring as a safety, corner and slot receiver. Runs well, turning in six sub 11.0 second times in the 100 meters as a junior, with most coming in the 10.9 range. Can be a force player in the run game, play center field or cover receivers and tight ends out of the slot.

“Diagnoses well. Physical with and more than willing to lower his shoulder. Flows downhill with vigor and shows good tackling technique in the open field, driving through ball carriers. Has very good ball skills as a safety prospect. Broke up 12 passes as a junior and is capable of making one-handed catches on offense. A long-strider in the open field. A competitor with the play personality you desire on defense. May not be truly overwhelming in one area, but has a well-rounded skill set as a true safety. Can continue improving his trigger and break on the ball in coverage.”

3. Tae Harris — Georgia Tech

School: Cedartown (Ga.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 53 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Tae Harris is a highly explosive athlete who turned in one of the more impressive combine showings during Under Armour’s 2024 camp circuit. He carries that speed over to the track, where he doubles as a top sprinter. 6-foot-3.25, 263 pounds. 35-inch arms, 7-foot-1.5 wing-span, 10.5-inch hand. Top combine athlete. Rim-protector and dunker in basketball.” Charles Power, Director of Scouting and Rankings

4. Hylton Stubbs — Florida

School: Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 58 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Hylton Stubbs is a big-frame, physical, instinctive safety who has a knack for being around the ball. He’s one who I think finds ways to make plays in a multitude of ways and I think probably projects as a versatile safety but ultimately one who I think could be more of a strong safety type as he continues to fill out. I’ve seen him in person several times, and I think he projects to be a kind of physically-imposing safety who can defend the run but definitely has some ball-hawking abilities.” — Charles Power

5. Faheem Delane — Ohio State

School: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Violent, downhill safety prospect who plays with a mean streak. Physical and tenacious player that forces receivers to plays with their head on a swivel. Strong trigger and ability to run the alley from deep safety. Striker that detonates ball carriers on impact.

“Very comfortable around the box and could potentially develop into a big nickel or extra backer in sub packages. Good ball skills and ability to high point the football. Need to see more when it comes to his man cover ability, but has the ability to walk in a play an important role in the run game as soon as he arrives on campus.”

6. Anquon Fegans — Auburn

School: Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 63 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Anquon Fegans is one of the most polished defensive backs in the 2025 cycle. He has good size and length at around 6-foot-0.5, 185 pounds. Fegans has been a complete ball hawk throughout his career at Thompson. He’s an interception machine, picking off nine passes as a junior. His ball skills and instincts are excellent and his background playing corner helps him in man coverage.

“Fegans also has the physical traits to be a strong run defender and tackler. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is able to get on the field early in his career on the Plains, given his level of polish and development.” — Charles Power

7. Ivan Taylor — Alabama

School: Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 65 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Ivan Taylor is a prospect we’ve known about for a long time, being the son of Super Bowl champion Ike Taylor. He has the NFL pedigree. It’s easy to see it. He’s a smart player. He’s well-rounded. He primarily plays safety at his high school. The first thing that sticks out about him is his fluidity in his movements. He is a very loose flexible athlete. He changes directions very well. He looks like the son of an NFL player with his ability to always be in a good position. He’s rarely caught napping and plays with a high level of awareness.” — Charles Power

8. Eric Winters — Auburn

School: Enterprise (Ala.)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 79 NATL.

Insider’s Take: “Whether it is tracking down a ball carrier, tracking a quarterback as a blitzer, or tracking the ball in the air, Winters locks in on his target and becomes relentless in his pursuit. He has a lot of speed to work with but also has a elite recognition of what is unfolding with each play.” — Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston

9. Lagonza Hayward — Florida

School: Lyons (Ga.) Toombs County
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 81 NATL.

Insider’s Take: “That is a prospect who affects games in the passing game as well. Hayward is known for making game-changing plays and is Mr. Do-It-All at his high school. He is an explosive player who makes plays in a variety of ways, including at wide receiver, another position he could play in college if he wanted to.

“With that explosiveness and physicality at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, it’s expected that Hayward makes an impact in some capacity as a true freshman. He possesses a blend of intriguing tools and has a high ceiling.” — Gators Online’s Corey Bender

10. Kainoa Winston — Michigan

School: Montgomery Village (Md.) Gonzaga
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 100 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Kainoa Winston is an athletic, instinctual safety prospect who is an outstanding football player overall. He plays as a deep safety at Gonzaga against really strong competition. I think the first thing that stands out is his play speed and physicality. He’s a really good open field tackler. He’s really like a little missile flying around. He plays fast, lowers his shoulder, throws his body around and has a well-rounded skillset at safety. He checks the boxes in terms of his play personality, his athleticism and his toughness. He shows the ability to make plays in coverage as a deep safety. He adds value on special teams. You see him block a ton of kicks his junior year.” — Charles Power