If there’s one position Florida high school football has become known for in recent years, it’s defensive back. This week we look at the best safeties within that group as we approach the start of the 2022 season.
1. Cedrick Hawkins (Cocoa)
While it’s a crowded list at the top, this Ohio State commit is deserving of the No. 1 spot. A four-star prospect, Hawkins is coming off a junior season for Class 4A runner-up Cocoa that saw him rank among the state’s leading tacklers at safety, totaling 117 overall with 10 PBUs and four interceptions.
2. Zaquan Patterson (Chaminade-Madonna)
One could also make a case for Patterson, a four-star prospect from defending 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna, to be No. 1 on this list of best safeties entering the 2022 Florida high school football season. Having collected 69 tackles with four sacks as a sophomore last season, Patterson is firmly established as Florida’s top safety in the 2024 class, and is potentially the top player at the position nationally.
3. Elliot Washington (Venice)
One of the more well-known names at defensive back in 2022 is Washington, an Alabama commit from defending Class 8A state champion Venice. The versatile four-star prospect collected 58 tackles a year ago for the Indians, along with four interceptions.
4. King Mack (St. Thomas Aquinas)
One of the fastest-rising players in the state at any position is Mack. A four-star prospect from defending Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas, he’s icoming off a junior season that included 54 tackles and four interceptions.
5. Jaylen Heyward (Rockledge)
Not only is Heyward one of Florida’s top safeties returning in 2022, he’s also one of the top players at the position in the 2024 class. The four-star Rockledge standout is coming off a sophomore season that included 35 tackles and three interceptions.
6. Daemon Fagan (American Heritage)
While the American Heritage secondary lost two of the state’s better defensive backs from a year ago, Earl Little Jr., and Jacolby Spells, the Patriots return one of Florida’s best safeties in Fagan. The four-star prospect missed some time a year ago due to injury, but recorded 28 tackles and two interceptions when healthy.
7. Jaydan Hardy (IMG Academy)
Hardy, a four-star prospect in the 2024 class, transferred to IMG Academy in the offseason from Lewisville High School in Texas. After collecting 61 tackles as a freshman in 2020, Hardy totaled 24 tackles and five PBUs during limited action a year ago.
8. Jordan Castell (West Orange)
Castell has lined up at cornerback for West Orange as well, but he has all the makings of an impact safety at the next level. The four-star prospect collected 36 tackles as a junior, along with two interceptions.
9. Jaremiah Anglin Jr (Lake Wales)
Few safeties in Florida had a better 2021 season than Anglin. A three-star prospect he collected 83 tackles a year ago with five interceptions, while also seeing time on offense at receiver.
10. Jordan Pride (Blountstown)
Pride, a multi-sport standout for Blountstown in the 2024 class, gets the nod for the final spot on this list of best safeties entering the 2022 Florida high school football season. The four-star Florida State commit is a two-way player for the Tigers – he also plays wide receiver – and is coming off a sophomore season in which he collected 28 tackles and two interceptions.
Honorable Mention:
Antione Jackson (Dillard), Shawn Russ (Dunbar), Brayshon Williams (Lakeland), Amare Ferrell (Columbia), Kerry Brown (Naples), Kenton Kirkland (Raines), Ryan Mack (St. Thomas Aquinas), Dontay Joiner (Lakeland), Eli Campbell (Seabreeze), Conrad Hussey (St. Thomas Aquinas)
