Safety requires a broad range of tools for one to play the position effectively: good instincts, speed, solid coverage skills, strong tackling fundamentals. After all, if the ball carrier or receiver gets past the safety, there is no other layer of defense. Then there are the safeties who are really good at each of those skills. Following are those players – the 10 best safeties in Georgia high school football entering the 2023 season.
1. KJ Bolden, Buford, Senior
OK, so Bolden is technically listed as an ATH, but his primary position is safety, and he’s one of the true great ones. The five-star recruit was an All-State and All-American selection last season, and the Gwinnett Touchdown Club named him the Defensive Back of the Year for the county. That honor also could have been considered for Bolden as the best in the state, and maybe even the country. (He is the No. 1-rated safety in the country in the 2024 class.)
As for that speed mentioned in the introduction above, Bolden is an elite runner on Buford’s track squad, so you can check that box. In fact, you can check every box for Bolden, as he’s truly the best among Georgia high school safeties in 2023. He announced his commitment to Florida State on August 5, but before he suits up for the Seminoles, he’ll be wreaking havoc as a senior for the Buford Wolves.
2. Jontae Gilbert, Douglass, Junior
Gilbert is one of the top-rated safety prospects in the 2025 recruiting class. He recently decommitted from Ohio State, but he still has close to 25 offers to choose from. The four-star DB has listed Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Alabama, and USC among the schools he is now considering.
The 24/7 Sports composite ranking lists the Douglass High Astro as the No. 2-rated safety in the country. He is 6 feet, 1 inch, 170 pounds, and he is one of the most physical safeties in the state. He’ll still have two more seasons, including this one, to continue polishing his already impressive skill set.
3. Ricardo Jones, Northside Warner Robins, Senior
One look at Jones’ stats with the Eagles tells you all you need to know about his abilities as a ball-hawking safety: Over the past two years (his sophomore and junior seasons), Jones has 78 tackles and 12 INT, and that came in only 18 games.
Jones suffered a lower leg injury that cut into his 2022 season, but he still came away with a full season’s worth of impressive stats, including 5 INT and 37 tackles. He’s tall, he can cover, and he will only get better as one of the top Georgia high school safeties in 2023. A four-star prospect, he recently committed to Clemson.
4. Demello Jones, Swainsboro, Senior
This four-star safety has committed to Georgia, and like Bolden, Jones can really play anywhere. He showed that versatility last year, lining up on both sides of the ball, including RB, WR, and QB, in addition to his safety duties. He ended up with 27 offensive TDs, including 20 rushing. He rushed for a total of 1,279 yards while helping his Tigers reach the Class A-D1 state finals. He also came away with 44 tackles from his safety spot last season.
5. Rasean Dinkins, Warner Robins, Junior
Dinkins is a four-star DB who plays both cornerback and safety, but his primary position is listed as strong safety. He enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2022, finishing with 57 tackles and 8 INT as one of the primary defensive difference-makers for the Demons, who advanced to the GHSA Class 5A state championship game for the sixth consecutive season.
Dinkins also had an interception in his freshman season in limited playing time. There will be no limits on this playmaker, one of the best Georgia high school safeties in 2023, as he looks to add to his rising stock among college recruiters. His offers include Florida State.
6. Noah Dixon, Troup County, Senior
Dixon is a four-star safety returning for his final season at Troup County. He will be heading off to join Ricardo Jones at Clemson following this upcoming season, but until then, there’s work to be done in the Tigers defensive backfield.
At 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 185 pounds, Dixon has been one of the most sought-after safeties in the 2024 class, with offers also coming from Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama. He had 44 tackles last season, and he also logged several plays on offense for the 12-2 Tigers.
7. CJ Heard, Woodward Academy, Senior
This three-star safety from College Park’s Woodward Academy is a physical defender who has been recruited by a long list of major college programs, including Purdue, Texas, Pitt, and approximately 30 others. But it’s Florida State that has apparently secured the services of Heard.
He has been a three-year starter at Woodward Academy, where he has collected 150 tackles over the past three seasons, and he’ll certainly be among the best Georgia high school safeties in the 2023 season.
8. Jaiden Patterson, Mill Creek, Senior
Patterson, a three-star safety for the defending state champion Hawks, is one of the fastest DBs in the state, with a 10.97 time in the 100M. He was an important part of Mill Creek’s dominant 2022 season, coming up with 55 tackles and 4 blocked FG attempts. Patterson also scored 2 TDs on kickoff returns last season.
He’s 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 175 pounds, and he’ll get even bigger, faster, and stronger as he returns for his senior season before heading off to college at North Carolina.
9. Jakob Gude, Langston Hughes, Senior
This four-star safety will give the Panthers and coach Daniel “Boone” Williams a solid presence in the defensive backfield this season after transferring from Sandy Creek. Last year, Gude had 25 tackles, a sack, and an INT in just seven games with the state champion Patriots.
He will also play some at cornerback, just as he did in 2022. This offseason, the 6-foot, 1-inch,190-pounder made his college choice official, announcing that he would be attending Central Florida following his senior season.
10. Christian Peterson, Westlake, Senior
It looks like UCF has landed yet another top Georgia high school safety with the recent commitment from Westlake three-star recruit Christian Peterson. The 5-foot, 9-inch Peterson had been offered by several schools, including Auburn, before deciding to head to the Sunshine State and the Knights. He has 110 career tackles, which he will add to as he likely splits time at strong safety and free safety for the Lions.
