B/R CFB 250: Top 15 Safeties
Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football, regardless of NFL potential. Through interviews with B/R Experts Matt Miller, Michael Felder, Barrett Sallee and Adam Kramer, authors Brian Leigh and Brian Pedersen have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country, narrowed that list to 250 and sorted by position. Today, Brian Leigh presents the Top 15 Safeties.
Other CFB 250 Positions
2015 was a thin year for safeties.
Three of the top 10 players returned from last year's CFB 250, but two of those returnees—Jalen Ramsey and Su'a Cravens—moved full-time to other positions (cornerback and linebacker, respectively). So really, only one of the top 10 and five of the top 20 safeties returned.
That explains, in some ways, why only 15 safeties made this year's list. The position was simply less deep than usual.
However, as you'll see in the following slides, there was no lack of high-end talent. It's a shallow pool at the bottom but a deep one at the top.
Additionally, five of our top 10 safeties are underclassmen, which means they have to return next season.
The youth at this position is strong.
But before we dig into the rankings, a disclaimer. The players who follow were graded as college prospects, not as NFL prospects. If they get the job done at this level, who cares how they project to the pros?
This is all about college performance.
Note: If two players finished with the same grade, the authors made a subjective call on which player they prefer.
15-13. Caputo, Sanders, Baker
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15. Michael Caputo, Wisconsin
Pass Defense: 32/40; Run Defense: 34/40; Ball Skills: 16/20
Michael Caputo is the leader of an underrated Wisconsin secondary. Rather, he's the leader of an underrated Wisconsin defense. His stats took a dip this season—especially his tackle numbers, which dipped from 7.57 per game to 4.83—but the Badgers still ranked No. 7 in defensive efficiency, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. Caputo was in the middle of all of that.
14. Dominick Sanders, Georgia
Pass Defense: 33/40; Run Defense: 33/40; Ball Skills: 17/20
Attrition forced Dominick Sanders, then a true freshman, to play earlier than expected in 2014. He took a while to find his footing, but that experience helped him grow into a star by this season, when he tied the SEC lead with five interceptions. His reward was a spot on the Associated Press All-SEC First Team, and even though this list rates him slightly less favorably, it's not hard to see why. Georgia's defense was not its problem in 2015.
13. Budda Baker, Washington
Pass Defense: 34/40; Run Defense: 32/40; Ball Skills: 17/20
Budda Baker flies under the radar because he plays for Washington, and Washington plays in the Pac-12. But when you watch him, you'll see one of college football's best athletes. Prior to the season, B/R's Michael Felder compared his range to that of Earl Thomas. He didn't make the leap some expected, but he showed well for a defense that, despite limited attention, ranked No. 10 on Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings.
12-10. Kindred, Jackson, Watts
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12. Derrick Kindred, TCU
Pass Defense: 34/40; Run Defense: 34/40; Ball Skills: 16/20.
At times this year it felt like Derrick Kindred, an eventual All-Big 12 first-teamer, was the only healthy player on TCU's defense. He held things together for a unit that lost six starters this offseason and countless more to injury but still finished with a top-30 pass defense, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. He also finished second on the team with 79 regular-season tackles. His presence helped keep TCU competitive.
11. Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Pass Defense: 34/40; Run Defense: 33/40; Ball Skills: 17/20
After struggling to keep his job at cornerback, Eddie Jackson moved to safety this spring and immediately looked better for it. Healthy after last year's ACL injury, he shot from the gates with five interceptions in Alabama's first seven games. He failed to record a pick in the next six games, but he still played solid coverage and stuck his nose in against the run. Teams can no longer pick on Alabama's secondary.
10. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
Pass Defense: 33/40; Run Defense: 36/40; Ball Skills: 16/20
Last year, as a true freshman, Armani Watts started strong but then faded. This year, even though Texas A&M followed the same pattern, Watts stayed strong all season. He led the Aggies and finished tied for third in the SEC with 111 tackles, including 20 against Ole Miss, 14 against Arkansas, 13 against Auburn and 10 apiece against Alabama and Arizona State. Say what you will about Texas A&M's defense, but Watts is both hard-nosed and versatile.
9. Derwin James, Florida State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Monster. A true freshman safety that can line up as an edge-rusher and physically dominate; an offensive tackle can only be described as a monster."
—Michael Felder
Pass Defense
Derwin James has room to grow in coverage. He's a freak athlete with size (6'3", 212 lbs) and range to be better, but his instincts, like those of most true freshmen, need work. Despite that, he makes an impact rushing the passer, having posted 3.5 sacks this regular season. His bull rush on Florida left tackle Mason Halter, which Michael Felder referenced above, demonstrates the depth of his freakishness.
Run Defense
James was Florida State's second-leading tackler, which is crazy when you dive into the numbers. He posted two tackles in the first three games before exploding with 75 tackles in the next nine (8.3 per game). He flies downhill with the speed of a running back, shoots gaps and blows up ball-carriers. As he learns more gap discipline, he should emerge as one of the best run defenders in the country.
Ball Skills
Although he failed to record an interception, James found his way to the ball. His wiry frame and speed allow him to cover ground and high-point passes, and he also forced two fumbles and recovered another. In time he will develop better instincts and make more plays in coverage—especially since, at Florida State, teams can't really avoid him. For now, he trades on pure athleticism.
Overall
Is there a more exciting freshman in college football? If so, this author didn't see him. James ramped his way into action, turning a quiet start into an explosive finish and forging his way onto 2016 Preseason All-America teams. Some of what he does is truly once-in-a-generation.
8. Marcus Maye, Florida
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Huge hitter. I mean…enormous hitter. He's also good in coverage, but from a run standpoint, you couldn't ask for a better player in that scheme."
—Barrett Sallee
Pass Defense
Known before the season as a run defender, Marcus Maye improved and emerged as a viable coverage safety. It helps having Vernon Hargreaves III and Jalen Tabor at cornerback, but Maye provided a safety net behind them. He still needs to work on slot coverage, where the Gators are better served using a nickelback, but he proved he could hold his own after struggling in 2014.
Run Defense
Maye is a thumper who loves to stick his nose in against the run. He's big but not huge on paper (6'0", 207 lbs), but at times he defends like a linebacker. He also came through against the best teams on Florida's schedule, posting 13 tackles against Tennessee, eight against LSU, seven against Florida State and nine against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. It's nice to have a gamer in the secondary.
Ball Skills
With a compact build and violent athleticism, Maye is an agent of chaos. Offensive players hear him breathing down their necks—and with good reason. He forced four fumbles this regular season, including three in his first four games. He also logged two interceptions and six pass breakups, including three against Florida State.
Overall
Maye is Florida's most versatile defender and a big reason for the Gators' success. His improvement in coverage allowed Hargreaves III and Tabor to take chances and create big plays. Combine that with his run defense and you're looking at an All-SEC talent. His name flies under the radar, but he makes play after play on tape.
7. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Moving Peppers from a corner to a safety/star/big nickel spot was one of the best things this staff did upon arrival in Ann Arbor."
—Michael Felder
Pass Defense
Jabrill Peppers holds his own in coverage, although he's nowhere near reaching his potential. An athlete of his caliber with smooth hips and quick feet should be better. But that's nitpicking because, for a normal redshirt freshman safety, he was excellent in the slot this season. He'll never be moved back to cornerback, where he struggled before missing most of last year with an injury, but he covers pretty well for a safety.
Run Defense
Peppers is a weapon in run support. The numbers may not show it, but his speed makes an impact on film. He's also a willing tackler who can wrap up or bring the lumber. As he gains more weight (6'1", 205 lbs) and learns to disengage blockers in space, he should improve from very good to great.
Ball Skills
This is where Peppers excels. Beyond his 10 pass breakups and return skills, Michigan used him on offense and actually, toward the end of the season, relied on him for more than just gadget plays. He had nine offensive touches against Ohio State, and although he never broke one, he racked up 54 hard-earned yards. There's a reason he's been compared to Charles Woodson.
Overall
After taking a medical redshirt in 2014, Peppers returned with a vengeance and won Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Jim Harbaugh's staff made the wise decision to move him from cornerback, where he struggled to find his footing, to a playmaking hybrid safety role that complements his skills and instincts. He needs to be more consistent and welcome a leadership role next season, but you can see why he came to Michigan with so much hype.
6. Quin Blanding, Virginia
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B/R Expert Scouting
"He has more range than most strong safeties, but his big worth is his willingness to be a secondary run defender and good tackler."
—Michael Felder
Pass Defense
Quin Blanding is an average pass defender with room to become great. He has a long frame (6'2", 205 lbs) and superior athleticism to cover ground and make plays. He also has fluid hips, although he's not great at mirroring in man. One area he could really stand to improve is his pass rush, as he has one sack and zero QB hurries in 24 career games.
Run Defense
Whatever Blanding lacks in coverage, he makes up for—and then some—in run defense. He's a tackling machine who, despite never making a conference championship or bowl game, has posted 238 tackles in two seasons (9.9 per game). His range, physicality and tackling make him a force coming downhill or buzzing inside-out.
Ball Skills
Blanding made fewer plays as a sophomore, when he logged one interception and three pass breakups, than as a freshman, when he logged three interceptions and six pass breakups. That drop-off can be attributed to teams throwing away from him, but it's true he also needs to work on ball skills. His size makes him capable in jump-ball scenarios, but he doesn't jump many routes or stick his hand on enough passes.
Overall
If he played for a better team, Blanding would be a household name. Recruiting junkies know him well—he was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2014 class, per 247Sports' composite ratings—but his impact has been anonymous outside ACC circles. That, however, does not mean he hasn't been excellent. Despite his team's lack of success, he's on track to become a high draft pick in 2017.
5. Jamal Adams, LSU
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Heavy hitter, smart, knows how teams are trying to attack. He's not the biggest guy in the world, but he plays bigger than he looks."
—Barrett Sallee
Pass Defense
Jamal Adams is the next great LSU safety, and his coverage is a big reason why. He can dip into the slot but does his best work on the back end, patrolling deep zones and covering over the top. Despite a weaker pass rush than usual, the Tigers ranked No. 12 in the country in pass defense, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. All he needs to add is some pass rushing.
Run Defense
Like most LSU safeties, Adams does great work in the box. He's still growing into his frame (6'1", 211 lbs) but can already get downhill and lay the wood on opposing running backs. It's scary to think how good he might be if he adds another 5-10 pounds. His two-game stretch against Western Kentucky and Alabama, when he posted 21 tackles (20 solo!), was among the best a safety played all season.
Ball Skills
Ball skills take Adams from very good to great. He notched four interceptions in the regular season, including two against quarterbacks with top-10 national efficiency ratings (Brandon Allen and Brandon Doughty). He flies around the field and showed soft hands to finish plays. He's not and never will be Tyrann Mathieu, but he might be the next best thing.
Overall
As a true freshman, Adams showed promise, especially late in the year. The hype slowly built this offseason, which often leads to disappointment, but Adams came through and lived up to it. He's not elite in any one area, but he's strong across the board. There's nothing LSU won't ask him to do.
4. Jayron Kearse, Clemson
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B/R Expert Scouting
"To be that big and have the ability to move and track the ball—it's scary. He's 6'5" and a legit 4.4 kid. You just don't see that."
—Matt Miller
Pass Defense
After two years of flashing upside but inconsistency, Jayron Kearse emerged as a star in Clemson's secondary. His size (6'5", 220 lbs), speed and length allow him to patrol the back third like a Gold Glove center fielder, covering more ground than any safety in the country. As a team, Clemson ranks No. 3 in pass defense, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings, and Kearse has played a big role in that.
Run Defense
With the frame of an outside linebacker, Kearse comes down and adds a big body to run support. He posted 52 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss this regular season, and he's also unselfish in passive run defense, handling blockers and freeing up lanes for his teammates. It's nice when a player with Kearse's raw tools is willing to do the dirty work, too. He's a consummate team player.
Ball Skills
Kearse's length allows him to cover any type of pass-catcher. No matter who he's guarding, he can adjust and win at the catch point. Teams know better than to target him, but he still ended up with six pass breakups and one interception this regular season. His ball skills are not elite, but they are close.
Overall
Kearse was a pleasant surprise this season, when he finally patched his raw tools into a cohesive, week-to-week star. He and cornerback Mackenzie Alexander were the rocks of one of the nation's best secondaries. After barely missing our preseason Top 250, he consistently made us look dumb for omitting him. Those flashes he showed as a sophomore became the norm in 2015.
3. Darian Thompson, Boise State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"He's a do-it-all free safety. He rushes the passer, he stops the run, he has great range over the top. I'm just a huge, huge fan of his."
—Matt Miller
Pass Defense
Darian Thompson plays single-high safety, using instincts and range to prevent teams from throwing over the top. He's sort of like a sweeper in soccer—the ultimate last line of defense. He's less advanced in man coverage, but his size (6'2", 212 lbs) allows him to hang with tight ends up the seam.
Run Defense
Thompson plays angry and likes to mix things up against the run. He'll crash into a blocker when needed but does his best work using speed in open space. He also gets downhill and posted 6.5 non-sack tackles for loss this regular season. Even in a down year for the Broncos, they finished top-15 in S&P+ run defense.
Ball Skills
Thompson is one of the nation's best playmakers. He's the Mountain West leader in career interceptions, having just passed Eric Weddle—formerly of Utah, now with the San Diego Chargers—with his 19th against UNLV in October. He reads quarterbacks' eyes and has the reaction time, speed and hands to make them pay for that. It's advisable to never throw in his direction.
Overall
There's not much to criticize with Thompson. He's a four-year contributor for one of the nation's best programs, and he's steadily improved each season. His rise from average recruit to NFL draft prospect is typical for modern Broncos, and his words inspire all non-blue-chip players. "If you want something, just go get it," he told Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman. "No matter what anybody else says."
2. Vonn Bell, Ohio State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"I love him. He's a hitter who can play in the box, but he can also play in the back. I think you can build a secondary around his skill set."
—Matt Miller
Pass Defense
Vonn Bell is a versatile safety whose ability to move around sets the tone for Ohio State's defense. He can cover from the slot or in an intermediate zone, but he can also drop and blanket a deep-third. The only thing he lacks is a pass-rush presence, having logged zero sacks or QB hurries in the regular season. But when someone can cover so many different positions, what's the point of asking him to blitz?
Run Defense
Bell is a strong downhill safety who plays bigger than his size (5'11", 205 lbs) in run support. He sifts through blockers, fills alleys and sticks his head down to finish plays. He posted 63 tackles this regular season—a small downgrade from last year's stats, but some of that had to do with inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan stealing tackles. Bell still made an impact beyond the box score.
Ball Skills
Bell first showed his ball skills in the 2014 Orange Bowl, when he leaped to make a one-handed red-zone interception. That was the highlight of his true freshman season, but he's only gotten better the past two years. He logged six interceptions and six pass breakups as a sophomore and two picks with nine pass breakups this regular season. He has the instincts teams covet in free safeties.
Overall
Ohio State's front seven has bigger names and earns more publicity, but the secondary is the key to its defense. Bell is the anchor of that secondary and the key to its ranking No. 4 in Football Outsiders' pass defense S&P+. The former 5-star recruit, per 247Sports' composite ratings, has gone from role player to star to superstar over three seasons. His career has gone according to plan…and then some.
1. Jeremy Cash, Duke
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B/R Expert Scouting
"I think he needs to get better in coverage, but as far as strong safeties go, he's one of the best. He plays the run incredibly well."
—Matt Miller
Pass Defense
Jeremy Cash makes the most of his abilities in coverage. He is not an Ed Reed-type athlete or a natural center fielder, but he protects his deep-third or half in zone and can cover the slot in man. He is also a capable pass-rusher who posted eight sacks and 13 QB hurries the past two seasons.
Run Defense
Against the run, Cash functions like an extra linebacker—and a good one at that. He's been amazingly consistent with his numbers, posting 8.64 tackles per game as a sophomore, 8.54 as a junior and 8.42 as a senior. If that sounds like a slight dip in production, consider that his tackles for loss rose from 9.5 to 10.5 to 18.0 over the same period. He's the nation's best in-the-box safety.
Ball Skills
Cash plays the ball more with his helmet than his hands. He failed to record an interception this season, but he forced multiple fumbles for the third straight year. He also has a nose for pass breakups (15 the past three seasons) and has the size (6'2", 210 lbs) to challenge jump balls. He may not be a ball hawk, but he's a still a decent playmaker.
Overall
Cash was at the center of Duke's resurgence the past three seasons. Short of head coach David Cutcliffe, he was probably its most important figure. What's crazy is that he transferred to the Blue Devils from Ohio State, where he played his freshman season. Imagine him and Vonn Bell starting together!
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of CFBstats.com or ESPN.com.
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