Deep Dive: Wake County Safeties

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've reached the end of our Deep Dives series. We've looked at over 60 players in Wake County, from guys ranked as the top overall player in the state to rising stars, potential breakouts, and key role players. I split the corners and safeties, partially because I wanted to give the Wake County safety class it's own place to shine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group is both deep and talented. So, let's get to it. For one final time in 2025, let's deep dive into Wake County. Here are the top seven Wake County safeties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Past Wake County Deep Dives</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-qbs/">Quarterbacks</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-rbs/">Running Backs</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-qbs/">Wide Receivers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/deep-dive-wake-county-ol/">Offensive Line</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/deep-dive-wake-county-idls/">Interior Defensive Line</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-wake-county-edge-rushers/">Edge Rushers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-top-wake-county-lbs/">Linebackers</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-top-wake-county-cbs/">Cornerbacks</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 7 Safeties in Wake County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["775970"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e38ebf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peebles is one of the most disciplined and well-rounded safeties in the 2026 class. He may end up playing corner or in the slot at the next level since he works well in limited space, but for now, he's the guy that frees up Cardinal Gibbons' defense to be so multiple. He can play every position in the secondary and he can be left on an island to the boundary, in the slot or in single-high sets, giving the Crusader defense plenty of versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1610578"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e38f1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is a guy we're really high on, even if he attends a much smaller school than some of these other players. He has elite size and good speed and knows how to use his athleticism to his advantage. He's disciplined enough and has the footwork to match up in the slot. He needs to be on the radar of FCS schools because he's a playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1057087"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e38f69"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alston plays much bigger than his frame and is one of the more instinctual players in the state. He puts himself in position to make plays and is a candidate to see his interception numbers tick up as a senior, as long as he can finish another couple of plays. He's best as a center fielder, where he can put his eyes on the quarterback and read and react.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946850"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e38fb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bryant has been on the radar of college coaches for a while, dating back to his first offer from Charlotte as a rising sophomore. Now with plenty of large offers to his name, he's a well-known prospect and player. Bryant's wingspan is impressive and he's able to get to balls in the air that other safeties can't. His coaching staff has the confidence in him to let him play man in the slot and whichever school lands him will get a high-upside, athletic safety with positional versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1608326"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e38ff7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another big, talented safety in the 2027 class, Williams can play both in the box and as a centerfielder, versatility that colleges love to see. He has great ball skills, takes good angles, and can break downhill in a hurry (both against the run and with the ball in the air). He's one of the more well-rounded safeties in what is shaping up to be a really strong class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1580801"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e3903e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bailey has grown a couple of inches and made serious gains in the weight room, and he should play at a weight that matches his playing style in 2025. That is to say, he's a hard-hitting box safety who has played undersized in the past. That won't be the case this year and I would be surprised if this is the year he puts it all together and becomes a true star. He might end up as a linebacker at the next level, but I like his coverage skills too much to put him there yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1397877"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e488e39083"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Randle is an intriguing defensive back that I really like. He's had a couple of slightly disappointing testing times, but turn on the tape and see that his game speed is so much better than his listed 40. He can fly around the back end and does a ton for Garner Magnet, a team looking to take the next step towards building a consistent winner. He's the heartbeat of the defense and a guy who could really turn heads as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Wake County Safeties to Know</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aeden Davis</strong>, South Garner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='979687' first='Tasman' last='Clayton']</strong>, Apex</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->