The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football safeties heading into the 2024 season.
Note: While projection of what a player can be is considered, most rankings are from what has been seen on the field. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
25. Jalen Stroman, Virginia Tech Hokies
Stroman followed in his older brother Greg’s footsteps to play for Virginia Tech. He has started to pave his own way after registering 55 total tackles and two passes defended.
24. Shilo Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes
Shilo is Deion’s son who plays safety for the Buffaloes. He has also played for South Carolina and Jackson State, but now is producing for Colorado. He had 54 tackles and one interception last season.
23. CJ Baskerville, Texas Tech Red Raiders
He started his career at San Diego State, but Baskerville played at Texas Tech last season. His first season in a power conference proved to be productive, as he totaled 78 total tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended.
22. LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Brooks is a veteran in the Georgia Tech secondary, having made plays over the last couple of seasons. He tallied 67 total tackles, one interception and seven passes defended last season.
21. Justin Barron, Syracuse Orange
Barron was all over the field for Syracuse last season. He had 90 total tackles, one interception and seven passes defended last season and could be a key to getting the Orange off to a good start in 2024.
20. Shyheim Brown, Florida State Seminoles
Florida State has some good secondary players, which includes Brown. He had 53 total tackles, one interception and four passes defended in 2023, helping the Seminoles to a perfect 2023 regular season.
19. Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh Panthers
After spending two seasons at Florida, McMillan transferred to Pittsburgh last season where he really broke out. He had 105 total tackles and a pass defended in 2023.
18. Marquis Sigle, Kansas State Wildcats
Sigle played at North Dakota State and then transferred to Kansas State for last season. He played well during his first year in Manhattan, racking up 63 total tackles, one interception and nine passes defended.
17. Keon Sabb, Alabama Crimson Tide
Sabb helped Michigan win a championship last season and transferred to Alabama this offseason. Following a season with 28 total tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended, he will join a new-look Alabama program.
16. Rod Moore, Michigan Wolverines
While his production dipped in 2023, Moore has been a good player in Michigan’s secondary for a few season. He’ll be looking to do more than his 38 total tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended in 2023.
15. Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa Hawkeyes
The 2023 season was Nwankpa’s first season getting a lot of playing time and he did well. He finished the season with 42 total tackles, one interception and two passes defended.
14. Coco Azema, Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern wasn’t projected to have a good season in 2023, but players like Azema helped them do way better than was projected. He had 47 total tackles, one pass defended and one interception.
13. Billy Bowman, Oklahoma Sooners
Bowman has great eyes to find the football, which he showed plenty in 2023 with six interceptions and four passes defended. He will be one of Oklahoma’s best players as they move to the SEC this season.
12. KJ Winston, Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State has plenty of good defensive players, with Winston being included. He had 61 total tackles, one interception and five passes defended in 2023.
11. Major Burns, LSU Tigers
LSU’s defense wasn’t good and Burns had to clean up a lot of things in the backend. In 2023, he had 93 total tackles, one interception and three passes defended.
10. Andrew Mukuba, Texas Longhorns
Mukuba played three seasons for Clemson before transferring to Texas this offseason. In his career, he has 143 tackles, one interception and 16 passes defended.
9. Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State has a ball hawk in Cooper, who had 10 passes defended and five interceptions last season. The junior has played a lot of football in his career and will be looking to help the Cyclones compete in the big Big 12 this season.
8. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina Gamecocks
In two seasons at South Carolina, Emmanwori has put up good production with 156 total tackles, two interceptions and nine passes defended. It’s possible if he has another good season, he could be headed to the pros.
7. Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin Badgers
Wohler was a tackle machine for Wisconsin last season. He had 120 total tackles, but also had two interceptions and six passes defended.
6. Jonas Sanker, Virginia Cavaliers
Sanker was a bright spot for Virginia with 107 total tackles and 11 passes defended. He’ll be looking to build on that for the 2024 season.
5. Dillon Thieneman, Purdue Boilermakers
Thieneman was one of the best freshmen in the country for the 2023 season. He chased down 106 tackles, six interceptions and two passes defended, which is a good stepping stone for his career.
4. Malachi Moore, Alabama Crimson Tide
Moore has had a role in Alabama’s defense since 2020. He is one of the more experienced safeties in college football. Last season, he had 52 tackles, one interception and five passes defended.
3. Malaki Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
Starks is a great player who could be drafted very early in 2025. He had 52 total tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended in 2023.
2. Xavier Watts, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Watts was an All-American last season, as he had a fantastic year. He had 52 total tackles, seven interceptions and four passes defended.
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
It was impressive that Downs could start for Alabama as a freshman. What makes it more outstanding is that he played so well with 107 total tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended. He now will be suiting up for the Buckeyes and will help bolster and already great defense.
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