SEC football is well known for having some of the best – and historically most destructive – safeties in college football. The safety position has evolved massively over the last couple of decades – in large part to the expansion of spread offenses – and a safety today has to be able to hit like a linebacker in the running game and cover like a cornerback in the passing game.
By Steve Wright
Here are the top five safeties in the SEC entering the season:
5. Yusuf Corker – Kentucky Wildcats
Yusuf Corker had one of those games that jumps off of the stat sheet against Mizzou with 17 solo tackles where he proved that his reading of the game is as good as any safety in the country. He has a total of 159 tackles (89 solo) over the last two seasons and he is a safety that flies around the field and never gives up on a play for a Wildcats’ defense that has been strong over the last few seasons. The senior is capable of an All-SEC level campaign and he will have to bring the best out of others as this is a Wildcats’ defense not bringing back a ton of production this fall.
4. A.J. Finley – Ole Miss Rebels
A.J. Finley come out of nowhere as a true sophomore last season for the Rebels to lay the wood as the enforcer of the Rebels secondary. He finished third on the squad with 62 tackles and is excellent both as a run supporting defender and as a player that can drop into coverage and pick off a pass thanks to his plus level ball skills and how he reads the game. Lane Kiffin needs Finley to progress to the next level after they finished 126th in the FBS in pass defense last season.
3. Tykee Smith – Georgia Bulldogs
Tykee Smith hasn’t actually played a down of football for the Bulldogs yet but he is widely seen as one of the best incoming transfers in the SEC based on what he did in the defensive backfield for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He is a great fit – the Bulldogs lost plenty in their secondary – and he allowed just over 100 yards total last season on 38 targets from opposing quarterbacks in the pass happy Big 12 last season. Named on various All-American squads last season, Smith should be an instant fix in the Georgia secondary.
2. Jordan Battle – Alabama Crimson Tide
Telling an Alabama fan that Jordan Battle would be on this list after his freshman season in 2019 – when he was basically a liability – would have elicited some interesting responses. The Nick Saban era Crimson Tide, however, has shown an unerring ability to coach up players and as a sophomore Battle was an outstanding free safety with a pick-6 and 66 tackles to his name. Expect another leap in production from Battle as a junior.
1. Jalen Catalon – Arkansas Razorbacks
Jalen Catalon had no right to be as good as he was as a redshirt freshman for the Razorbacks last season. His work rate and motor around the field put him in the position to make more plays than any other safety in the league and Catalon just seems to always be in the right place at the right time to make something happen. Last season he had a ridiculous line of stats that included 99 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. Watching Catalon grow as a sophomore this season should be something special.
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