Underclass Safeties on Breakout Watch in TN

There has been an influx of young talent inside the state of Tennessee here recently and a strong amount of that talent has developed at the safety position specfically.   In both the 2028 and 2029 recruiting class, there are plenty of talented safeties and some new names could emerge on the recruiting scene as the football season takes place this fall.   Here are two players at the position from each of the mentioned classes that could break out on the recruiting front with some more production this season and string together some new offers.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knoxville Catholic 2028 SAF [player_tooltip player_id='2144592' first='Skylan' last='Johnson']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='2144592' first='Skylan' last='Johnson'] is an under-the-radar safety prospect with good size, burst and versatility.   With his team having strong safety play in addition to him, he has utilized his versatility from the slot, being a key defender against the run and covering receivers in the passing game.   He has excellent burst when attacking downhill, allowing for him to hunt down ball carriers when a lane opens itself. He has good tackling technique and should be a reliable tackler against the run when he moves to the next level.   That athleticism has showed up against the pass as well, with the natural athleticism to keep in stride downfield against receivers, albeit in very limited opportunities.   While not having as many isolated matchup opportunities is not ideal, but the tools are certainly there to project a well-rounded skillset for the college level.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Southwind 2028 SAF [player_tooltip player_id='1617036' first='Miguel' last='Moore']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1617036' first='Miguel' last='Moore'] is a safety prospect with good length and burst with the ability to finish plays from the back end of the defense.   He has a good frame, listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds and utilizes it to effectively finish plays, especially against the run. When he identifies an opening, he has good burst to break downhill and chase down ball carriers in pursuit.   He flashed the ability to finish plays in the passing aspect as a sophomore and should be stepping into a larger role during his junior season.   He has the size, burst and playmaking ability to be an effective safety at the next level and will be a player to watch as he takes on a more prominent role as a junior.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lexington 2029 SAF [player_tooltip player_id='1549656' first='Redding' last='Wilson']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1549656' first='Redding' last='Wilson'] is an exciting young safety prospect with good size, movement ability and versatility.   He holds a good, strong frame for a rising sophomore -- listed at 6'0 and 180 pounds -- while being a fluid mover that allows for him to be a versatile playmaker.   He is comfortable in a backpedal or attacking downhill to make the tackle. Can play around the LOS (80 tackles) or as a ballhawk (5 INT). Good fundamentals and technique.   He has promising start-stop ability and can alter his path to the ball to make a play. Multi-sport athlete that plays baseball in the offseason.   He is a player that could see his recruitment begin to explode as he continues to get more explosive himself.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knoxville Webb 2029 SAF [player_tooltip player_id='1707825' first='Gibby' last='Tomberlin']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1707825' first='Gibby' last='Tomberlin'] is an intriguing young safety prospect that has a good frame, downhill ability and versatility.   He has good size for his age at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. Additionally, he has good straight-line burst and can track down ball carriers. As the younger brother of a linebacker, he inherited the strong tackling ability to finish plays in the box as well.   He has potential on the back end in coverage and will look to show that ability during his sophomore season in a much larger role. He has the ball skills to make plays when the ball is in the air.   He has natural athletic ability and will see a healthy amount of carries on offense as a tailback this season.   As a freshman, he had an instant impact in a limited capacity for one of the top programs in the 6A classification. Now, he will bring his talents to the field for Knoxville Webb in 2026.

There has been an influx of young talent inside the state of Tennessee here recently and a strong amount of that talent has developed at the safety position specfically.