2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the safeties

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top safeties for the 2024 season.

1. John Wetzel

Latrobe

Senior, 6-1, 205

Penn State-bound linebacker Alex Tatsch isn’t the only stopper on Latrobe’s defense. Wetzel, a standout safety and quarterback, was a first-team all-conference player on both sides of the ball last year. Defensively, the Marshall recruit made 53 tackles and three interceptions. His highlights included a 95-yard pick-six in a win over Thomas Jefferson and a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Butler. Wetzel scored 17 touchdowns overall and rushed for 1,117 yards. He received more than a dozen college offers, including from West Virginia, Boston College and Cincinnati.

Watch John Wetzel highlights

2. Brock Cornell

West Allegheny

Senior, 5-11, 185

Cornell was credited with 109 total tackles last season and 52 solo stops, earning him a share of the Parkway Conference defensive player of the year award with then-senior Cameron Lindsey of Aliquippa. Cornell also intercepted two passes and forced a fumble, while leading the team with 1,043 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He committed to Bucknell in July over offers from Albany, Brown, Duquesne, Lehigh, Penn and Robert Morris. Conference coaches voted him first-team all-conference for both offense and defense two years in a row. Cornell is also an all-section baseball player.

Watch Brock Cornell highlights

3. Jayden Price

Seneca Valley

Senior, 6-4, 190

Last season was largely a frustrating one for Seneca Valley, but Price was a bright spot on defense. The Toledo recruit made 40 tackles, intercepted a pass and earned first-team all-conference honors in 6A. Previously a cornerback, Price will play safety this season for the Raiders. He also drew college offers from Air Force, Akron, Army, Bryant, Buffalo, Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Robert Morris and Yale.

Watch Jayden Price highlights

4. Samir Crosby

Greensburg Central Catholic

Junior, 5-10, 170

Crosby is taking over at quarterback this fall, but his contributions on defense — and special teams — deserve attention. He was credited with 107 total tackles, six interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season, earning all-conference honors for offense and defense in Class A. He also returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. He lists offers from Buffalo, Fordham, Harvard, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and UNLV.

Watch Samir Crosby highlights

5. Arison Walker

Aliquippa

Senior, 5-9, 170

Walker contributed a team-high eight interceptions last season as Aliquippa won its first undefeated state title. He made 62 tackles, forced two fumbles and scored six touchdowns. He picked off one pass in the WPIAL finals and two more in the state finals. He lists college offers from Central State, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.).

Watch Arison Walker highlights

One to watch

Gabriel Jenkins and David Davis

Imani Christian

The teammates in the Saints secondary are both Power 4 college recruits. Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound sophomore safety, made 53 tackles and four interceptions last season. Davis (6-0, 174), a junior cornerback/safety, had 15 tackles. Each has Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia among their lists of college offers.

Watch Gabriel Jenkins highlights

Watch David Davis highlights

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Position breakdowns

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

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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: Aliquippa, Greensburg C.C., Imani Christian, Latrobe, Seneca Valley, West Allegheny