Top 25 Safeties Ranked: 2024 College Football News Preview
For some crazy reason, safeties never get enough love.
They get disrespected in the NFL Draft, they aren't often considered major stars on the collegiate level, and they're somewhat seen as random defensive backs who get thrown into the mix in some way.
But having five defensive backs on the field is the norm now, and more than ever they are the last line of defense - really.
Their job is to clean up the messes the guys up front can't.
They're now finally getting their respect, and it starts with having - probably - the best defensive player in college football at the top of our list of the 25 best safeties going into the 2024 season.
2024 CFN Preseason All-Conference Teams
AAC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA
IND | MAC | MWest | SEC | Sun Belt
College Football Preview 2024: All 134 Teams
2024 CFN Top 25 Position Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | OC
EDGE/DE | DT | LB | CB
Nov 12, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (23) runs in to the end zone for a touchdown after recovering a fumble against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
1 Caleb Downs, Soph. Ohio State
2 Jahdae Barron, Jr. Texas
3 Malaki Starks, Jr. Georgia
4 Malachi Moore, Jr. Alabama
5 Xavier Watts, Sr. Notre Dame
6 Hunter Wohler, Sr. Wisconsin
7 Dillon Thieneman, Soph. Purdue
8 Kevin Winston, Sr. Penn State
9 Sebastian Castro, Sr. Iowa
10 Kendal Daniels, Jr. Oklahoma State
11 Maxen Hook, Sr. Toledo
12 Shilo Sanders, Sr. Colorado
13 Xavier Nwankpa, Sr. Iowa
14 Jonas Sanker, Sr. Virginia
15 Jeremiah Cooper, Jr. Iowa State
2024 CFN Top 25 Position Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | OC
EDGE/DE | DT | LB | Safety | CB
16 Xavier Scott, Jr. Illinois
17 Donte Kent, Sr. Central Michigan
18 Keon Sabb, Sr. Alabama
19 Shyheim Brown, Jr. Florida State
20 Corey Ellington, Sr. Mississippi State
21 Donovan McMillon, Sr. Pitt
22 Jaden Voisin, Sr. South Alabama
23 Rod Heard, Sr. Notre Dame
24 Jack Howell, Sr. Colorado State
25 Rod Moore, Sr. Michigan*
*Put Moore somewhere in the top ten if he returns healthy
2024 CFN Preseason All-Conference Teams
AAC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA
IND | MAC | MWest | SEC | Sun Belt
College Football Preview 2024: All 134 Teams
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