Top 10 Safeties of all time

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The number one safety in this list is obvious, but before he arrived, D2 star and HOFer Gary Rubeling was the man. He had 25 picks in his career to lead the No. 2 spot by 12. He had 13 picks in 1983 and nine in 1982. Was named first-team All-American twice. Randy Bielski (1976-79) is another HOF safety who played in the D2 and 3 era and had 13 picks, tied for second all-time.

1)Jordan Dangerfield (2010-12). If you look at program-changing transfers you start with Dangerfield, who came from a Hofstra program in 2010 that was eliminated. He was an old-school hard-hitting safety who was named first-team All-American in 2011 and second-team All-American in 2012. Also was first-team All-CAA in 2012 and 2011. In 2011, recorded 93 tackles with 2 picks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Had 69 tackles and 6 pass breakups in 2012 in 10 games (was suspended for UNH game due to an illegal hit). No-brainer HOFer. Nice NFL career as a special teams standout and backup safety mainly with Pittsburgh from 2014-20.

2)Aaron Bates (1990-93). Towson HOFer who was a second-team Academic All-American and earned All-ECAC honors when he recorded 66 tackles. As a senior, he made 74 tackles and picked off six passes. He finished his career with 225 tackles, 21 pass breakups, and 13 interceptions, second on the Tigers’ all-time list. His production was hampered by knee injuries.

3)Christian Carpenter (2012-14). Thought he was born to play safety at 6-2, 185. Was named first-team All-CAA in 2013. Had 7 tackles in the FCS Championship game. Had 98 tackles and four picks in 2013. 79. Ended up with 177 tackles and six picks in a career shortened by injuries. 

4)Monty Fenner (2015-18). Redshirted as a freshman and wound up starting 40 games. Recorded 247 tackles and six picks with 20 pass breakups. Earned third-team All-CAA in 2016. 

5)S.J. Brown (2019-21). Tough call here because there were players with more production, but played against less competition. Brown was a sturdy hitter, who earned second-team All-CAA honors in 2021 for a rough 4-7 Towson team. Had 76 tackles and two picks in 2021 and 87 tackles and two picks in 2019.

6)Khalid McLeod (1994-97). There are some guys who played in that non-scholarship era that could have played in any era. McLeod was 6-2, 223 and a safety. Sure, if he played now, he would probably play linebacker. But he could lay the wood and had good speed. Finished with 13 picks to tie for second-all time. Was first-team All-PL in 1997 and second-team All-ECAC in 1996. Had 245 tackles to lead all FCS safeties who played for Towson along with two sacks and two fumble recoveries. At times, was a man amongst boys.

7)Drew Mack (2005-08). Had 205 tackles, 11 for loss, 22 pass breakups and had six picks. Was named third-team All-CAA in 2007 and second-team in 2008. 

8)Sporty Evans (1998-2001). Started his career out at wide receiver and played safety for just two seasons. But was very good in that span. Ranked second on the team in tackles with 70 in 2001 and finished with 104 tackles and 22 pass breakups. Also, had five picks including two pick-sixes. Earned first-team All-PL in 2001. Had he played in the A-10/CAA, would have gotten a redshirt season for 1998 when he was injured and missed the year. There were no redshirts in the PL at the time.

9)Edmund Carazo (1999-02). Finished with eight picks though had 7 in 2002. Finished with 95 tackles and 15 pass breakups. Started his career as a cornerback and also played nickel before he moved to free safety late in the 2001 season. In 2002, he earned second-team All-PL honors.

10)Brian Fitzpatrick (2001-04). Tied with many players with eight interceptions all-time. Had five picks as a junior in 2003 and finished with 65 tackles with six pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Had 94 tackles as a junior and 67 tackles as a senior with two pass breakups. Ended up with 163 tackles and 12 pass breakups.

HM)Kenny Scott (2004-07)