Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden signs with Georgia

Buford (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden has signed with Georgia.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Bolden is the No. 7 overall prospect and top-ranked safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Bolden committed to Florida State on Aug. 5, choosing the Seminoles over the likes of Auburn and Georgia. But he flipped his commitment on signing day, choosing to stay home and play for the Bulldogs.

“At Georgia, I can go there and be a hometown hero,” he previously told On3. “I get to play for a school close to home with great players and be developed by top coaches.”

Bolden has an On3 NIL Valuation of $433K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

KJ Bolden Scouting Summary

On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes this about him as a prospect:

“One of more versatile athletes in the 2024 cycle with considerable upside as a safety. Measured in at 6-foot, 185 pounds prior to his senior season. Has good length with 32-inch arms. Posted strong track marks as a high school underclassman with a personal best of 10.76 seconds in the 100 meters. Also tests well in the combine setting. Plays both ways for Georgia powerhouse Buford High as a receiver and defensive back. Projects as a defensive back and likely at safety long-term, where his combination of athleticism and length makes him one of the nation’s best.

…Flashes outstanding play speed on Friday nights. Closes quickly with physicality in defending the flats. Has shown good deep range in coverage both on Friday nights and in 7-on-7. Played a bunch of offense as a junior. Shows good playmaking ability and overall athleticism on that side. While his ball skills are good for a safety, they would need to improve were he to play offense in college. Has not replicated his impressive track times later in his high school career. Has a relatively smaller sample size relative to some of his highly-touted peers on defense heading into his senior season.”