2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the safeties

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 1:45 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top safeties for the 2023 season.

1. Jason Cross

Bishop Canevin

Senior, 6-1, 170

The West Virginia recruit reached the WPIAL finals as a sophomore and junior, and will try to lead the Crusaders there again this fall. He intercepted six passes last season, made 59 tackles and forced one fumble. He earned first-team all-conference honors at defensive back, and was voted to the second team for offense, where he was a 1,200-yard passer last year. He’ll play less quarterback and more wide receiver this season. He committed to the Mountaineers over Michigan State and Syracuse, his two other finalists. He listed nearly two dozen college offers, including Penn State, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech. Rivals.com ranks him as the second-best safety prospect in the state among 2024 graduates.

Watch Jason Cross highlights

2. Clinton Robinson

Keystone Oaks

Senior, 6-1, 195

The Syracuse recruit showed his big-play potential last season when he scored 11 times, and those touchdown plays averaged 34 yards apiece. His longest was an 80-yard punt return, but he also had two TD catches longer than 50 yards. He’ll play safety and quarterback for the Eagles this fall. He committed to the Orange over offers from West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Monmouth, Ohio, Temple and Western Michigan. He earned first-team all-conference honors in Class 2A.

Watch Clinton Robinson highlights

3. Jackson Pons

Norwin

Senior, 6-2, 185

Pons earned first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the ball last season. Defensively, he made four interceptions and 38 tackles, while he had 22 receptions on offense. The Miami (Ohio) recruit showed his speed on a 90-yard touchdown catch. He committed to the Red Hawks over offers from Army, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Columbia, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Gardner-Webb, Kent State, Navy, Ohio, Penn, Princeton and Toledo.

Watch Jackson Pons highlights

4. Cameron Thomas

Penn Hills

Senior, 5-10, 180

Thomas and teammate D’Andre Cochran both earned first-team all-conference honors last season, giving the Indians a talented tandem in the secondary. Thomas has college offers from Maine, St. Francis (Pa.) and Akron, where older brother Corey is a linebacker.

Watch Cameron Thomas highlights

5. Steven Jenkins

Gateway

Senior, 6-3, 185

Jenkins is a newcomer to Gateway after earning second-team all-conference honors as a defensive back at Woodland Hills. The Bowling Green recruit should make an immediate impact with the Gators as a starter in the secondary, but also could play linebacker. He committed to Falcons over offers from Maine and UNLV.

Watch Steven Jenkins highlights

One to watch

Colin Brady

West Greene

Senior, 6-2, 195

Brady plays in the WPIAL’s smallest classification but makes big plays on both sides of the ball. He’s best known as a running back after rushing for 1,897 yards and scoring 27 times. But his size and willingness to hit also make him a standout safety. He received his first college offer from Campbell.

Watch Colin Brady highlights

• • • • •

Position breakdowns

QB | RB | WR | OL | TE | DL | LB | CB | S | K

Top five coaching changes for 2023

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Gateway, Keystone Oaks, Norwin, Penn Hills, West Greene