Top 25 College Football Safeties

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 2026 season.

Note: There is some projection in these rankings for the upcoming season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.  

25-21

25. Tamarcus Cooley, LSU Tigers

Cooley has played at Maryland, NC State and LSU. With the Tigers last season, he registered 70 total tackles, two interceptions and two passes defended. 

24. Jaylen McClain, Ohio State Buckeyes

McClain got plenty of experience for Ohio State last season, registering 53 total tackles and three passes defended. Now, he will be asked to be a leader in the secondary. 

23. Dalton Brooks, Texas A&M Aggies

Brooks has been a productive player for the Aggies over the last few seasons. He has 139 total tackles, three interceptions and three interceptions in his career so far. 

22. Corey Myrick, Clemson Tigers

Myrick had 92 total tackles last season for Southern Miss. Now, he will be making the jump to play for Clemson, where he will be tested at the Power Five level. 

21. Tao Johnson, UCLA Bruins

Johnson totaled 51 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended last season for Utah. He will now join UCLA where he will hope to help the Bruins turn things around. 

20-16

20. Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma Sooners

Peyton and his brother Eli are both impactful players in Oklahoma’s good secondary. Last season, Peyton had seven passes defended and two interceptions. 

19. Isaac Smith, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Smith had 124 total tackles in 2024, but that decreased to 64 last season. His production should increase again in 2026, which could help Mississippi State take a step forward. 

18. Marcus Ratcliffe, Texas A&M Aggies

Ratcliffe doesn’t have the greatest production, as he had three passes defended and no interceptions last year, but he play well within Texas A&M’s defense. He will pair with Brooks to make a nice safety duo. 

17. Terry Moore, Ohio State Buckeyes

Moore had a huge 2025 season for Duke, as he finished with 71 total tackles, four interceptions and six passes defended. Now, he will play for Ohio State as they will compete in the Big Ten. 

16. Jeremiah Cooper, Penn State Nittany Lions

Cooper only played in four games due to injury last season, but had two interceptions and eight passes defended for Iowa State in 2024. He followed Matt Campbell to Penn State, where he will have a chance to lead a bunch of new players on defense. 

15-11

15. Marcus Neal, Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State will get both of Iowa State’s safeties from last season, as Neal also joins the fold. He had 77 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three passes defended and two interceptions for the Cyclones last season. 

14. Faletau Setuala, BYU Cougars

Setuala is one of a few emerging young stars for BYU after a good 2025 season. He tallied 84 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended and three interceptions for the Cougars last year. 

13. Zach Lutmer, Iowa Hawkeyes

Lutmer had 71 total tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended in 2025 for Iowa and now takes on more of a leadership role in the secondary. 

12. Jelani McDonald, Texas Longhorns

McDonald will help lead a Texas secondary that lost some talent to the NFL after last season. He had 80 total tackles, three passes defended and three interceptions in 2025. 

11. Jamel Johnson, TCU Horned Frogs

Johnson was all over the field for TCU last season with 96 total tackles and five interceptions. Another good season could see Johnson rise up draft boards. 

10-6

10. Rod Moore, Michigan Wolverines

Moore has had trouble with his health, playing just three games over the last two seasons. If he can return to his form from before, Moore could quickly remind people how good of a player he can be. 

9. Keon Sabb, Alabama Crimson Tide

Sabb has earned a lot of experience at Michigan and Alabama. After registering 54 total tackles, one interception and three passes defended, he will pair with Bray Hubbard to give Alabama experience on the backend. 

8. Amare Ferrell, Indiana Hoosiers

Ferrell was a good part of Indiana’s national championship run, finishing the 2025 season with 48 total tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defended. There will be some other players returning and others entering who could make Indiana’s defense great once again. 

7. Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami Hurricanes

Fitzgerald had an elite freshman season for Miami, as he had six interceptions and two passes defended. He could be the first safety selected in the 2028 NFL Draft if he keeps on developing. 

6. Adon Schuler, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame has a great secondary and Schuler is a big part of it. He had 53 total tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended with the ability to lay down some big hits. 

5-1

5. Ty Benefield, LSU Tigers

There has been a lot of hype for Benefield at LSU this offseason after a few quality seasons at Boise State. He put up 107 total tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions last season. 

4. Tae Johnson, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Johnson really showed improvement in 2025, as he had 48 total tackles, four interceptions and three passes defended. More improvement would solidify Notre Dame as the best secondary in college football. 

3. Bray Hubbard, Alabama Crimson Tide

Hubbard made some key plays down the stretch for Alabama last season. He finished the year with 79 total tackles, four interceptions and six passes defended, but will be expected to lead more in 2026. 

2. Koi Perich, Oregon Ducks

Perich had successful seasons at Minnesota that included him playing on both sides of the ball. After registering 82 total tackles, one interception and two passes defended, Perich will focus just on offense at Oregon. 

1. KJ Bolden, Georgia Bulldogs

Bolden was able to break into the Georgia defense as a freshman, showing his immense potential and talent. Over the last two seasons, he has 135 total tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended. 

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