Must See Safeties In The Class of 2026

<p>The safety position is one that gets overshadowed at times but is one of the crucial spots within a defense. Their roles can be complex, from covering deep passes, to making big stops in the running game, safeties are often involved in multiple aspects of a defensive game plan. For this article we spotlight several safeties in the class of 2026 that are playmakers in the secondary.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ford is a cerebral player who plays faster than his opponents and he has the speed to cover ground in a hurry from his safety position. Markel has excellent ball skills, his field vision combined with his excellent technique allows him to be in position to make plays on the ball. He comes up in run support under control and he takes proper angles to the football. Markel has the versatility to walk down and cover slot receivers in the passing game. He is one of the most sought after defensive prospects in the 2026 class in Texas. He committed to Texas A&M this summer.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MarkelFord8/status/1723022300822311181 </div></figure>    <p></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">When you see Harmon in person he passes the eye test. He has a long, lean build at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. He has an extended reach that he uses to get hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage to get them off their axis. His footwork is superb and he has great hips that enable him to stay in phase with receivers in close coverage. He has the versatility to line up at cornerback or safety and be effective. From his safety position he has the speed to cover ground on the back end and he comes up in run support bringing physicality when he fills the hole. I have had the chance to see Harmon up close in a 7v7 setting and he showed that he has the skill set to play at a high level. He has seen offers come in from the likes of LSU, TCU, Arizona and Michigan State.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/XavierHarmon24/status/1754654036500836658 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Williams<strong> </strong>is one of the top safety prospects in the nation. He is a ballhawk in the secondary, who has unlimited range and his superb field vision puts him to be in position to make big plays on the football. In an early season contest against Santa Fe, he stepped in front of a pass over the middle and returned it for a touchdown. Not only can he cover but he has the speed to turn into an offensive threat with the football in his hands. Williams is a sure tackler who delivers big hits in run support. He has the skill set that college programs seek out in top flight safeties. Isaiah has excellent cover skills. Williams has the versatility to cover receivers in the slot, which allows him to play multiple roles within a defense. He is a national recruit with offers from top programs such as Texas, LSU, Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Oregon.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/isaiah12__/status/1708333043662950804 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Riley is a ballhawk from his safety position and if the ball is in his zone he is going to make a big play. The Austin LBJ standout has the speed to cover ground on the backend, he puts himself in position using great eye discipline and he closes on the ball looking to cause a turnover. Riley attacks ball carriers, taking proper angles and comes in run support under control. Yaheim is a sure tackler in the open field. With his stellar play, he established himself as a premier playmaker in the LBJ secondary during his sophomore season. He was selected as the 12-5A Defensive MVP, totaling 75 tackles and 4 interceptions with 2 pick sixes. College programs have seen his potential to be a difference maker at the next level. He has offers from the likes of Abilene Christian, Houston, Texas Tech, Tulsa, North Texas, and Arizona State. After a great camp with Baylor over the weekend, Riley picked up an offer from the Bears.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/YaheimRiley/status/1712950620502577154 </div></figure>

The safety position is one that gets overshadowed at times but is one of the crucial spots within a defense. Their roles can be complex, from covering deep passes, to making big stops in the running game, safeties are often involved in multiple aspects of a defensive game plan. For this article we spotlight several safeties in the class of 2026 that are playmakers in the secondary.