KJ Bolden Rising Star for Georgia

ESPN’s top returning college football players list for 2026 has KJ Bolden, Georgia’s safety, ranked 10 overall and the nation’s No. 2 safety behind LSU’s Ty Benefield. A former five-star recruit, Bolden started all 14 games last season, led Georgia in tackles with 76, and held receivers to just 10 catches on 23 targets while also excelling against the run. Scouts rave about his elite speed, instincts, and field awareness—some even believe he has more upside than former Bulldog Malaki Starks. Despite size questions, Bolden compensates with athleticism and smarts, even blocking a punt. His coach highlights his leadership growth as the team’s primary back-end communicator, and he’s working hard to add bulk while stepping into a bigger role for Georgia. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/650561bacb1e77e9