The 2026 FCS-to-FBS Transfer Rankings: Safeties

Thrilling upsets, ho-hum action, and everything in between have marked the 2026 college football season as it heats up as we get closer to October. Offenses have carried the day early in the season, but defense wins championships. Can these FCS-to-FBS transfer safeties help their stop units reach the pinnacle at the highest level of the sport? How will the 2026 season play out with these defensive backs carrying the load?

Notes: All statistics are courtesy of College Football Reference and various school websites, where applicable. Players are listed alphabetically, not ranked by talent, program fit, or other factors. 247Sports was the primary website used for rankings

You can find the positional rankings as they occur below:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Offensive Line

EDGE

Interior Defensive Line

Linebackers

Cornerbacks

Starters

1. Koa Akui | 5’10 193 | Redshirt Senior | Rice

Transfer from: Sacramento State

Akui transferred to Rice as a three-star portal recruit and the 132nd overall safety after spending three seasons at Sacramento State. He missed a majority of the 2024 season due to injury, so his breakout didn’t come until 2025. The Hawai’i native earned All-Big Sky First Team honors after posting 65 tackles, six PBUs, five interceptions, and one forced fumble. Rice possesses a 1-1 record in the 2026 season. The Owls’ starting free safety contributed in those contests, posting eight total tackles and a PBU. If he has a good season, he could start to get noticed by the draft community. Stay tuned for Mr. Akui as we move along in the 2026 season. Rice should compete for a bowl game this season if everything goes right for the Owls.

2. Anthony Hawkins | 6’3 202 | Redshirt Sophomore | Iowa

Transfer from: Villanova

The Iowa Hawkeyes received good news when the three-star portal recruit and the 58th overall safety committed to the program known for outstanding defenders. He has the prototypical size to play the position at a great level, and the signs were there at FCS Villanova. He serves as the starting strong safety for the Hawkeyes. His 2025 season for Villanova was productive enough to merit a selection to the FCS All-Freshman Second Team. He posted 59 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine PBUs, and two interceptions during that campaign. Hawkins is off to a solid start with five tackles for Iowa in 2026. He’s well on his way to producing at a high rate for the well-coached defense led by Phil Parker. Iowa will likely compete for the Big Ten title, but landmines against Ohio State, Washington, Minnesota, and Illinois exist.

3. MJ Moultrie | 5’11 195 | Redshirt Junior | Louisiana Tech

Transfer from: Hampton

Moultrie has had an interesting journey, making his way to Louisiana Tech for the 2026 season. He started his career at Kilgore College before transferring to Hampton in 2025. Throughout his collegiate career, he’s posted 179 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, eight PBUs, and three interceptions. He brings the Bulldogs a vast amount of experience and should play a major role as a starter/rotational piece going forward. Louisiana Tech isn’t in the best shape, so bowl eligibility is the expectation for the 2026 season. Moultrie was rated as a three-star signee and the 258th-ranked safety.

4. C.J. Richard, Jr. | 6’1 200 | Redshirt Sophomore | Florida State

Transfer from: Illinois State

Richard enters his redshirt sophomore season as a starter for the beleaguered Seminoles after one standout season for Illinois State. He produced 60 tackles, three interceptions, two PBUs, and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2025. Phil Steele named him to its Freshman All-American team after his 2025 campaign. He will play a vital role as the lone safety in DC Tony White’s defense, which hasn’t started the 2026 season strong. Florida State will struggle mightily this season to achieve bowl eligibility with a coach sitting on a nuclear hot seat. However, Richard should use this season as a launchpad for his future pro prospects.

5. Roman Tillmon | 5’11 195 | Redshirt Junior | Boise State

Transfer from: South Dakota

Tillmon played safety at South Dakota before transferring to Boise State as a cornerback. He’s played well in two games for the Broncos, registering seven tackles. 247Sports rated him a three-star portal recruit and the 73rd-ranked safety when he signed with the Blue Turf monsters. He posted 94 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six PBUs, and one forced fumble in 2025, which was a breakout season as a full-time starter. It will be interesting to see how he handles the transition to cornerback after playing safety throughout his career. Boise State has developed several standout defensive backs over the years, so he’ll be expected to do the same. The Broncos are off to a competitive start with a 2-0 record in 2026, so they should be in the race for the lone G6 spot until the end.

Rotational Players

1. Carmelo O’Neal | 6’4 210 | Junior | Alabama

Transfer from: Mercer

O’Neal comes into the Tide as a versatile chess piece that can play both cornerback and safety, but is listed as a cornerback this season. 247Sports ranked him a three-star recruit and the 77th-ranked safety overall. He participated in 23 games at Mercer, logging 54 tackles, 12 PBUs, and one forced fumble for rising FCS power Mercer. Unfortunately for the Bears, a large portion of their team left for Toledo alongside coach Mike Jacobs. He has the size and athleticism to play cornerback at 6’4 210, but he could be more impactful as a safety at the FBS level.

Regardless, teams will love his versatility at the next level if he merits consideration there. His progress as a junior will be worth monitoring in 2026. The Crimson Tide should compete for an SEC title with their talent and schedule. However, a four-game stretch of Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU will determine their fate.

2. Nate Robinson, Jr | 6’0 195 | Junior | UTSA

Transfer from: Marist

The Roadrunners landed an impact transfer safety who ranked as a three-star recruit and the 228th at his position. Robinson’s 2025 season earned him a spot on numerous All-American teams and a finalist position for the Buck Buchanan Award. He also earned All-Pioneers Football League First Team honors in 2025. In two seasons, he posted 115 tackles, 22 PBUs, six interceptions, and 2.5 tackles for loss. The Longhorn State native returns home after spending most of his college career in New York, so a homecoming might do him good as he continues to ascend. He’ll provide quality safety depth for the Roadrunners as they look to get back on track after several lean years. Bowl eligibility should be the priority in 2026.

3. Mekhai Smith | 6’2 215 | Junior | Minnesota

Transfer from: Lehigh

Smith is off to a hot start after transferring to Minnesota as a three-star portal recruit and the 81st overall safety, with ten total tackles in two games. He posted 96 tackles, seven PBUs, four interceptions, and one forced fumble for Lehigh over the past two seasons and earned FCS All-American honors in 2025. His ten tackles for the Golden Gophers rank second among Minnesota’s defensive backs. He’s one of the bigger safeties at a listed 6’2 195, so teams will love the size aspect of his game. If he can prove he has enough athleticism at this level, he could get drafted. Smith plays a key rotational depth role for the Golden Gophers.

4. Lavon Williams | 5’10 195 | Redshirt Senior | Illinois

Transfer from: East Texas A&M

Williams transferred to Illinois after a productive two-year stint with East Texas A&M, where he produced 129 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, 13 PBUs, and two interceptions. He was rated a three-star recruit and the 74th-ranked safety in the portal for the Illini. While the Longhorn State native didn’t earn any conference accolades, he’s a vital rotation piece for the defense as the team looks to replicate nine wins from 2025. He plays free safety but can play cornerback in a pinch, so Illinois valued his versatility in a deep defensive back group. The Illini shouldn’t have any difficulty in reaching bowl eligibility, but eight wins could be an interesting proposition.