Safeties are the last line of defense. However, they can also demonstrate their impact in run support and by laying out for physical hits. Here’s a look at the best Georgia high school safeties in 2022 – players who thrive at the position and bring their unique talents to center stage from the defensive backfield.
1. Caleb Downs – Mill Creek
Downs is currently the highest-ranked safety in the nation and the clear choice to top our list of best high school safeties in Georgia for 2022. The five-star Alabama commit is fundamentally perfect, and his two-way impact for the Hawks has only sharpened his skills. Last season, Downs racked up 77 tackles and intercepted five passes against difficult competition. He tacked on 11 pass defenses, rounding out an excellent statistical junior year for the state’s best player. Additionally, his exceptional instincts and physicality make him a true nightmare for any opposing offense.
2. KJ Bolden – Buford
With a 247Sports composite score of 0.9959, Bolden is easily the best player in the state in the class of 2024. He’s a true athlete who excels at receiver and safety, using excellent instincts to make plays on the ball. Last season, the speedy sophomore picked off several passes for Buford, which helped earn him offers from every major college football program in the nation. He will be among the state’s most electric players this season.
3. Terrance Love – Langston Hughes
The two-way track star is strong on both sides of the football. With over 400 receiving yards offensively and 78 tackles defensively, Love does not shy away from contact. He is an enforcer, resulting in his frequent presence near the line of scrimmage. Love, an Auburn commit, was an essential part of the Panthers’ state runner-up squad, single-handedly helping them win several games throughout the season.
4. Michael Daugherty – Grayson
Flexibility is Daugherty’s greatest strength – he can play anywhere in the secondary and excel at it. That knack has resulted in over 40 offers for the current LSU commit. The stats back up that characterization: 91 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 6 pass defenses last season. Daugherty may be one of the most well-rounded safeties in the Southeast, and both Grayson and LSU will be lucky to retain him in the future.
5. Mike Matthews – Parkview
Speed appears to be an increasingly important factor at safety. Matthews undoubtedly has track speed and put it to great use last season, recording more than 750 yards as a receiver and flying around the field from the safety position to break up passes. The five-star prospect has already accumulated 28 college offers, and as one of the top Georgia high school safeties in 2022, he is poised for an outstanding junior campaign on a young Parkview team.
6. Bryce Thornton – Milton
Milton may have lost massive amounts of talent in the offseason, but they still retain a great safety in Thornton. Thornton posted 93 tackles and 5 interceptions last season to accompany 3 more picks the year before. He is smaller in stature but plays with deceiving physicality. Thornton’s adjustments in mid-air are excellent, leading to several acrobatic plays to prevent seemingly large gains. Alongside Rob Billings, Milton may have the best safety duo in the state.
7. Jalon Kilgore – Putnam County
Big schools are taking notice of this small-town prospect. Kilgore was as significant a threat as any other player in his classification last year, catching for almost 1,000 yards offensively and totaling 88 tackles and 8 pass breakups defensively. There’s no shortage of power either, as the South Carolina commit forced 4 fumbles last season. Kilgore’s speed allows him to cover an entire portion of the field on every snap, forcing offenses to gameplan around him.
8. Jack Luttrell – Colquitt County
Luttrell played nearly every skill position last season, but his defense stood out with 3 interceptions. He recently committed to Tennessee over other schools such as Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and in-state Georgia Tech. Now, the all-round playmaker has taken his talents from Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula to Moultrie, where he looks to fit in significantly better with a characteristically physical Packer defense. Expect a true breakout season for him in 2022.
9. Ricardo Jones – Northside-WR
Northside burst onto the high school football scene last year, largely due to Jones’ play defensively. The breakout star intercepted six passes and caused two fumbles. Jones fits easily into Northside’s defensive scheme, and it has already reaped rewards, earning him a four-star rating and a high ranking among 2024 Georgia prospects. Jones’ great hands help make him one of the best Georgia high school safeties entering the 2022 season.
10. Ahmad Brown – Crisp County
Once again, speed proves to be key from the safety position. Brown’s 100-meter time of 11.09 adds greatly to his skillset, allowing him to be a true athlete for Crisp County. He made sizable impacts at several skill positions, but his contributions as a safety trumped them all, as he accumulated three picks and ultimately helped preserve nine wins for the Cougars.
