Summer is nearly here. Which means we’re one step closer to fall, and one step closer to college football. It’s season preview time.
These days, college football offseasons are dominated by talk of playoff expansion, conference realignment, and eligibility rules. We get so wrapped up in big conversations about the “future of the sport” that we forget to talk about the players.
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Let’s keep our focus on the field today and rank the top 15 SEC safeties. The safety position is hard to define. In modern football, a safety can be a traditional middle-of-the-field patrol, a box player, or a nickelback. How a defensive playcaller deploys his safeties will tell you a lot about how he wants the defense to run.
Regardless of the specific role, every player on this list figures to be an impact defender in 2026. Let’s jump right in.
15. TaMarcus Cooley, LSU
Nov 29, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Louisiana State Tigers defensive back A.J. Haulcy (13) and Louisiana State Tigers safety Tamarcus Cooley (0) react during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
You could make an argument for Cooley to be higher on this list. He’s experienced and was a Swiss Army Knife for Blake Baker‘s LSU defense in 2025. Cooley picked off two passes, made 12 stops, and registered two pressures. He returns to LSU in 2026 for his fourth year of college football with over 1,400 snaps under his belt. Cooley still has a couple of areas to grow, though. He was responsible for the occasional blown coverage last year and PFF charted Cooley with 359 yards allowed.
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14. CJ Heard, Vanderbilt
Heard’s 69.7 PFF grade ranked No. 22 among qualified SEC safeties last year. He was a productive player, notching 25 stops and 10 pressures. Heard emerged as a true freshman with FAU in 2024 and proved to a valuable addition for an SEC defense in 2025.
13. DaShawn Spears, LSU
If you’re talking impact per snap, Spears was one of the best in the SEC last year. He wasn’t a starter, but he made the most of it when he was on the field. Spears earned a 90.1 PFF defensive grade, which led all SEC safeties. Spears flirted with the transfer portal in January, but the LSU coaching staff made a point to retain the young defender. Spears will see more time in 2026.
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2025 was Williams’s first year as a full-time starter, and he impressed, earning a 73.7 PFF defensive grade. Williams picked of two passes and made nine stops. He figures to be a key part of the Gamecocks’ defense in 2026 as the unit tries to get back to its 2024 level.
11. Bryce Thornton, Florida
Thornton broke up six passes while recording nine pressures and a sack last fall. He was a do-it-all player on the backend for the Gators. Despite the coaching change in Gainesville, Thornton opted to stick around. He’s made 28 stops in over 1,400 career snaps and should be a valuable player for Florida again.
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Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Ty Benefield (0) against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Benefield is the third LSU safety to make this list — a sign of how deep LSU is at the safety position in 2026. Benefield drew rave reviews throughout LSU’s spring practice, with head coach Lane Kiffin labeling the safety “ultra-elite.”
Benefield comes to Baton Rouge after begining his career at Boise State, where he was a difference maker on the Broncos’ playoff run in 2024. Benefield has top-notch athleticism and has the chance to be a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Bowen made 23 tackles defending the run in 2025, and the average depth of tackle was 4.2 yards, one of the best marks among all SEC safeties. The former five-star was draft eligible, but elected to return to Norman for one more season.
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Smith can do it all for Mississippi State. He’s athletic and rangy enough to patrol the middle of the field, and he’s physical enough to cover tight ends. He can work in the box, defending the run and as a blitzer. Smith’s passer rating when targeted in 2025 was 26.8, which ranked No. 2 among qualified SEC safeties.
Texas A&M benefited from good safety play in 2025, and Brooks won’t be the only Aggie on this list. Per College Front Office, Brooks’ NIL value ranks No. 5 nationally among safeties. A&M wasn’t afraid to use Brooks at a blitzer last year, with the veteran safety notching 13 pressures and four sacks. Brooks needs to improve as a tackler, though. He missed 14 tackles defending the run in 2025.
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Bryant is one of the most underrated defenders in the SEC. He’s played over 1,300 career snaps and posted a 77.9 PFF defensive grade for Kentucky in 2025. He’s one of the top graded returning defenders in the conference, and among the most experienced. Bryant has made 26 career stops and intercepted four passes in 2025.
Sabb’s 82.0 PFF defensive grade was one of the SEC’s best in 2025. And per College Front Office, Sabb is the third most valuable safety in the country. Sabb has a decent chance of making the preseason All-SEC team later this offseason and he has All-American potential in 2026.
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I said Dalton Brooks wouldn’t be the only Texas A&M safety on this list — he’s joined by Marcus Ratcliffe. On3’s roster rating rankings slot Ratcliffe as the No. 1-safety in the country. He posted an 80.3 defensive grade and 81.7 coverage grade in 2025. Both are close to elite numbers.
Ratcliffe began his career at San Diego State before transferring to A&M. With over 1,800 snaps played, he has a wealth of experience. He’s long and rangy and is sticky in coverage vs athletic wideouts. He’s explosive and can fly into the box to make run stops.
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Ranking the top five on this list was not an easy task. All five have a case for the No. 1 spot, including Texas’ Jelani McDonald. Some may consider McDonald more of a classic nickel rather than a safety, but he plays enough safety to qualify for this list. He’s played over 1,200 career snaps and made 32 career stops with four interceptions. McDonald only allowed a 42.5 passer rating when targeted in 2025.
Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Bray Hubbard (18) and linebacker Justin Jefferson (10) celebrate after a play against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second quarter of the game at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images
Again, Hubbard has a strong case to be No. 1. He’s been one of the SEC’s best defenders for two years now and posted an 84.6 PFF grade in 2025. Hubbard played in the box more than any other SEC safety, signaling Alabama’s confidence in Hubbard’s ability as a run defender. Hubbard’s 30 stops led all SEC safeties in 2025.
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Bolden signed with Georgia as a five-star in 2025 and is one of the SEC’s most talented players. He wasted no time earning a starting gig as a true freshman and should emerge as a superstar this year. If the season began today, I’d say Hubbard is the better player, but I think Bolden will end up being the SEC’s best safety this year.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Ranking the SEC’s best safeties for the 2026 college football season
