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 2023 season.
Note: While projection of what a player can be is taken into account, most rankings are from what has been seen on the field so far. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
Top College Football Safeties
25-21
25. Jalyn Phillips, Clemson Tigers
Phillips makes up one half of a good safety pair for Clemson. He was all over the field with 74 total tackles last season.
24. Brandon Johnson, Duke Blue Devils
Duke took a huge step forward last season and Johnson was a factor. He finished with 55 total tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions.
23. Myles Farmer, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska had a rough season in 2022, but Farmer was a bright spot. He had 73 total tackles and four passes defended last season.
22. Bryan Addison, Oregon Ducks
Addison is a former wide receiver who changed to defense. He showed great progress last season, with five passes defended and two passes defended.
21. Bud Clark, TCU Horned Frogs
TCU made the National Championship Game last season behind a lot of good play from their secondary. Clark was a big help with five interceptions and five passes defended.
20-16
20. Aubrey Brooks, West Virginia Mountaineers
Brooks is a star on West Virginia’s defense. He was the second-leading tackler in 2022 and now will be looked upon to lead.
19. Asa Turner, Washington Huskies
Washington has a good history of defensive back play. Turner had 52 total tackles last season and could be a big part of Washington’s success this season.
18. Patrick McMorris, Cal Golden Bears
McMorris started his career at San Diego State and now is joining Cal. He had 61 total tackles last season and can vastly improve the backend of Cal’s defense.
17. Kobe Savage, Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State won the Big 12 Championship last season and Savage was a factor in that. He had 58 total tackles and three interceptions to help along the way.
16. Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa has a few good defensive backs and Nwankpa is one of them. He had a solid freshman season with one pass defended and one interception.
15-11
15. Lamiles Brooks, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech has a great player in Brooks. In 2022, he finished the year with 52 total tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended.
14. Isheem Young, Ole Miss Rebels
Young was highly succcessful at Iowa State for two seasons before transferring to Ole Miss. He hit the ground running with the Rebels, finishing the season with 66 total tackles, one interception and two passes defended.
13. Demani Richardson, Texas A&M Aggies
Richardson is one of the most experienced safeties in college football, as he has been getting significant playing time for the Aggies since 2019. He has 245 total tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended in his career.
12. Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State’s defense wasn’t quite as good in 2022 as they were in 2021, but Daniels really stepped up. He had 71 total tackles, three interceptions and five passes defended.
11. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nubin has been making plays for Minnesota for three seasons. In his career, he has 154 total tackles, eight interceptions and seven passes defended.
10-6
10. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina Gamecocks
Emmanwori had a great first season with South Carolina, as he totaled 62 total tackles. This season, he can do even better for the Gamecocks.
9. Malachi Moore, Alabama Crimson Tide
Moore has played a lot for Alabama over the last three seasons. With Alabama having limited starters returning his role will be more important. He has four interceptions and 12 passes defended in his career.
8. Cole Bishop, Utah Utes
Bishop was a tackle machine for Utah last season, finishing the year with 83. He can help Utah go to a third straight Rose Bowl this season.
7. Kenny Logan, Kansas Jayhawks
Logan has two straight seasons of over 100 total tackles. His play really helped Kansas get over the hump and make a bowl game last season.
6. Javon Bullard, Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia reloads on defense and it was Bullard’s turn to jump in last season. He had 46 total tackles and two interceptions last season.
5-1
5. Malik Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
Starks had 68 total tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defended in 2022. If Georgia is going to three-peat this season, it will take a lot of big plays from their secondary.
4. Andrew Mukuba, Clemson Tigers
After two good seasons, Mukuba is a leader on the Clemson defense. He has 101 total tackles, one interception and 10 passes defended in his career.
3. Kamren Kinchens, Miami Hurricanes
Miami doesn’t have as much talent as they did in the glory days, but Kinchens is one of the best collegiate safeties. He had six passes defended and six interceptions last season, showing his good ball skills.
2. Lathan Ransom, Ohio State Buckeyes
Ransom took a huge step forward last season in Jim Knowles’s defense. He had 74 total tackles and will need to help limit big plays in big games to help the Buckeyes get better this season.
1. Calen Bullock, USC Trojans
USC’s defense was not good last year, but that wasn’t Bullock’s fault. He had 48 total tackles, five passes defended and five interceptions in 2022 and can be the key to the whole defense improving in 2022.
Other Notable Safeties Outside the Top 25
DeAndre Boykins, North Carolina Tar Heels
Beau Brade, Maryland Terrapins
Ryan Cooper, Oregon State Beavers
Rod Moore, Michigan Wolverines
Jerrin Thompson, Texas Longhorns
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