Where the top safety recruits in the 2026 class signed

The safety position is often chock-full of talent and that’s no different in the 2026 cycle.

Of the top 100 prospects in the nation — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies — there’s a whopping 11 safeties. That includes a trio of five-stars.

Drama was rather minimal in a majority of the top safeties’ recruitments, but there were some flips. Bralan Womack flipped to Mississippi State from Auburn just ahead of National Signing Day earlier this month. Oregon snatched up Devin Jackson, who chose Florida the first time around.

Below is a look at the top safety prospects in the 2026 cycle and where they’re headed to play their college football next season:

1. Jireh Edwards — Alabama

School: St. Frances Academy (Md.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 21 NATL.

Scout’s Take: Scout’s Take: “We feel like Jireh Edwards is really one of the more high-floor, ready-made prospects at safety in this cycle. He is hyper-physical, and really showed out against top competition playing one of the toughest schedules in the country at St. Frances. And he’s just kind of a grown man. He’s older for the cycle and is already pretty physically mature. So there are questions as to the ultimate long-term upside. But in terms of a safety who could come in and earn significant snaps as a freshman, he’s one of the guys in this cycle who could do that.”

2. Jett Washington — Oregon

School: Bishop Gorman (Nev.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 22 NATL.

About: The nephew of the late great Kobe Bryant, Washington was trending toward Oregon for some time before he came off the board on June 19. The likes of Alabama and USC were also heavily in the mix for the 6-foot-4.5, 200-pounder, but no program pushed for the five-star quite like Dan Lanning and the Ducks. He’s one of five five-stars signed with the Big Ten program to date.

3. Joey O’Brien — Notre Dame

School: La Salle College (Pa.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 31 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Tall safety with elite instincts and ball skills. Measured at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds with 32.5-inch arms and 9.75-inch hands at Rivals Five-Star before his senior season. A two-way star at the high school level, showing his playmaking ability as a safety and wide receiver. One of the more dominant players we’ve seen on the 7-on-7 circuit over the years. Has elite coverage instincts. Seems to see routes before they develop. Jumps passes and comes down with remarkable interceptions. An absolute menace when defending intermediate routes over the middle of the field. Has sticky hands, making him a walking turnover. Smart player who understands how defenses work. Showing encouraging physicality as a senior. Doubles as a good high school basketball player. Lacks recent verified speed, but showed good play speed in man coverage against top wide receivers on the camp circuit. Will benefit from time in a college strength program, as he will need to add mass and strength. Playmaking ability and instincts make him one of the top safeties in a deep cycle at the position.”

4. Bralan Womack — Mississippi State

School: Hartfield Academy (Miss.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 35 NATL.

Scouting Summary: “Three-dimensional safety prospect that excels in run support, man coverage and zone coverage that possesses quality movement skills and physicality. Verified 6-foot, 190 pounds with average length. Strong testing in the spring camp setting, especially in the explosive in fluidity metrics. Has personal bests in the 100m at 11.03 and the 200m at 22.78. Instinctive playmaker that triggers so well to the football, appears to be one step ahead of every player on the field. Rangy defender that covers every balde of grass from sideline to sideline. Physical and willing tackler around the line of scrimmage. One of the most productive defensive backs in the country as a junior intercepting eight passes on defense and securing 54 catches for over 1,000 yards as a receiver on the offensive side of the ball. Versatility makes his defined role at the next level a potential question mark. Fits a lot of different positions at the next level but believe his best fit is as a nickel or strong safety due to his fluidity and physicality.”

5. Devin Jackson — Oregon

School: The First Academy (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 68 NATL.

Scout’s Take: “Devin Jackson is carrying over his dominant offseason into his senior season. He has been a playmaker early on in his final high school campaign. He’s already collected two interceptions in four games and continues to prove his impressive tackling ability around the line of scrimmage. Whether it’s man or zone coverage, he is able to make plays on the football and turn completions into pass breakups. Jackson has the size, speed and cover skills to be a true three-dimensional safety prospect at the next level.”

6. Joel Wyatt — Tennessee

School: Oakland (Tenn.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 73 NATL.

Wyatt on UT: “Tennessee made me feel like a top guy from the beginning,” he told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “Coach Heupel, Coach Chop (Levorn Harbin) and a lot of the coaches recruited me hard and showed me I was a top guy for them. That always meant a lot to me. They made me feel wanted and that never changed.”

7. Blaine Bradford — Ohio State

School: Baton Rouge Catholic (La.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 75 NATL.

Bradford on OSU: “I just felt it,” Bradford told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “You get that gut feeling. I prayed about it. It’s something you never felt before. When you get that feeling you got to take it … I think I’m shut down.”

8. Ayden Pouncey — Notre Dame

School: Winter Park (Fla.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 76 NATL.

About: Notre Dame picked up a commitment from Pouncey in April as the Sunshine State recruit chose the Irish over Michigan, LSU, Miami and Florida. He visited South Bend ahead of making his decision and recently returned to campus this fall. Pouncey, O’Brien, cornerback Khary Adams and CB Chaston Smith create one of the top DB hauls in the 2026 cycle.

9. J’Zavien Currence — South Carolina

School: South Pointe (S.C.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 88 NATL.

Currence on SC: “We’re super close to competing for championships,” Currence said. “We’re a few big plays away. We just need to close out more games and we’ll be where we need to be. Coach Beamer’s confidence hasn’t wavered, even though the season didn’t go how we wanted. I’m excited for this class. We’re ready to work and do whatever it takes to make South Carolina a top team in the country.”

10. Jordan Smith — Georgia

School: Houston County (Ga.)
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 89 NATL.

About: Smith checks in as one of the country’s best safety prospects. As a junior, he totaled 85 total tackles, three TFLs, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He garnered more than two dozens offers, but ultimately chose to stay home and play for the home state Georgia Bulldogs in May. He then put together another impressive season as a senior this fall.

Other top signed safeties in the 2026 class

11. Kentavion Anderson — Clemson
12. Jakob Weatherspoon — North Carolina
13. James Dunnigan Jr. — Miami
14. Gavin Day — Washington
15. Dylan Purter — Florida

16. Simeon Caldwell — Ohio State
17. Matt Sieg — West Virginia
18. Zech Fort — Georgia
19. Tylan Wilson — Texas A&M
20. Tyriq Green — Georgia

21. Aiden Hall — LSU
22. Craig Tutt — Ole Miss
23. Andre Clarke — Michigan
24. Chance Collins — Texas A&M
25. Kaiden Hall — Florida