KJ Bolden, nation's No. 1 safety, schedules 5 official visits, working on 6th trip

Buford (Georgia) five-star prospect KJ Bolden, the nation's No. 1 safety and No. 9 overall recruit in the class of 2024, took his time weighing his options when it came to official visits.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound versatile athlete considered several of the 40 schools that offered him scholarships.

But this week, he solidified his schedule.

Bolden will take official visits to Clemson (June 2), Georgia (June 9) Ohio State (June 16), Alabama (June 23) and Auburn (September 30).

He also told SBLiveSports that he is still working on scheduling a sixth trip to Florida State.

"(I) just got to figure out a date," Bolden said. 

So far, Georgia has three bluechip safety commitments in the class of 2024 - Rockledge (Florida) star Jaylen Heyward, St. John Bosco (California) standout Peyton Woodyard and Swainsboro (Georgia) playmaker Demello Jones.

After signing Caleb Downs, the nation's No. 1 safety, in the class of 2023, Alabama has an early commitment from Clay-Chalkville (Alabama) five-star prospect Jaylen Mbakwe this cycle.

Those two programs have the most significant safety recruiting hauls of late, but also may be two of the biggest contenders to land Bolden, so there's not much to read into the (potentially) crowded defensive backfields.

Bolden is an electric athlete that any program in the country would be happy to have.

And it appears as though five - and possibly six - teams have emerged as the true contenders for his services. 

Here's what 247Sports had to say, in part, about Bolden as a prospect:

"A two-way playmaker in one of Georgia’s higher classifications that is known for his footspeed and athletic markers after qualifying for states in the 100-meter dash as a freshman and then capturing bronze in the triple jump as a sophomore. Could probably play some offense at the next level... but ceiling appears to be highest in the secondary as he’s got plenty of range on the backend and always seems to be taking the right angles. Surprisingly physical given his wiry frame (measured roughly 6-foot, 185 pounds spring before junior year) and doesn’t seem to have too many issues wrangling much larger ball carriers to the ground. However, likely going to only make even more of an impact in run support once lifting in a college weight room. Should be viewed as one of the top safety prospects in the 2024 cycle given ball skills and closing speed." 

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