By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 6:24 PM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pine-Richland’s Jay Timmons works out during practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Pine.
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 2025 season.
1. Jay Timmons
Pine-Richland
Senior, 5-11, 185
Timmons is a big play source for the WPIAL Class 5A champions on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Florida State recruit intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns last year. He also scored twice on fumble returns, earning first-team all-conference honors at defensive back. Timmons can handle cornerback or safety, the spot he’ll play more often this fall. He made 42 tackles and forced three fumbles last year. Recruiting website Rivals.com rates him as a four-star prospect and ranks him 18th among cornerbacks nationally in the 2026 class. On offense, he caught 40 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. Timmons was briefly committed to Indiana before switching to Florida State, the alma mater of his father, Lawrence, who played linebacker for the Steelers. Timmons also had Power4 offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, Iowa State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wisconsin.
2. David Davis
Imani Christian
Senior, 6-0, 190
Coaches voted Davis first-team all-conference as a multi-purpose back after he scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning kicks. But the Penn State recruit is also good on defense, highlighted by a 96-yard interception return last season. Davis is a hybrid safety who can also play cornerback. He made 29 tackles, two interceptions and scored 12 touchdowns overall last year. Rivals.com rates him as a four-star prospect and ranks him 39th nationally among senior cornerbacks. He committed to the Nittany Lions over offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Nebraska. He also had Power 4 offers from Duke, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee.
3. Andy Tatsch
Latrobe
Senior, 6-3, 200
Latrobe still has a Tatsch brother anchoring its defense. A first-team all-conference defensive back, Tatsch made 47 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown last year. On offense, he led the Wildcats with 25 catches and 435 yards. He committed to Lehigh over offers from Akron, Buffalo, Cornell, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, New Hampshire, Penn and Yale. His brother Alex is now a freshman linebacker at Penn State.
4. Samir Crosby
Greensburg Central Catholic
Senior, 5-11, 170
Crosby is likely a future college wide receiver, but he has a knack for breaking up passes nowadays, too. He made a team-high 67 tackles last season, forced two fumbles and intercepted five passes. A first-team all-conference quarterback in Class A, Crosby scored 20 touchdowns including a couple on special teams. His college options include Akron, Buffalo, Fordham, Georgetown, Harvard, Kent State, Penn and Sacred Heart.
5. Qa’lil Goode
Aliquippa
Senior, 6-1, 160
The Quips have a well-earned reputation for talented defensive backs. Goode intercepted three passes as a sophomore in the 2023 state finals and since then has shown that was no fluke. He earned first-team all-conference honors at defensive back last season highlighted by a 60-yard pick-6. Duquesne, Chattanooga and Yale have extended college offers.
One to watch
Demetri Lowe
Ringgold
Junior, 6-3, 180
A two-way standout, Lowe earned first-team all-conference honors at both wide receiver and defensive back last season in Class 4A Big Six. He intercepted five passes and made 63 tackles. On offense, he had 45 receptions for 923 yards and 12 touchdowns. His longest TD was an 83-yarder. He received his first college offer from Akron.
• • • • •
Position breakdowns
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | DE | LB | CB | S | K
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, Pine-Richland, Ringgold