Not to mention the former three-star prospect had two stops for losses in three different SEC clashes. McCullar, a 6-foot-6 San Antonio native, was also . Not only did Anudike-Uzomah earn first-team, All Big 12, but he was also named the leagues Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year. Joseph pointed to the success of Denver's Bradley Chubb, who played defensive end at North Carolina. 4. ICAgfSkod2luZG93LGRvY3VtZW50LCdzY3JpcHQnLCdkYXRhTGF5ZXInLCdH Loosely, in a 4-3 (which means, 4 linemen and 3 linebackers), the edge rushers are the defensive ends. Tuipulotu could end up as a first- or second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Horton uses a stellar spin move to position himself around blockers while also opening his path to the quarterback. Along the way, many defensive linemen have risen to fame in the Jimmy Johnson, Sonny Lubick, Manny Diaz, and Randy Shannon defenses at Miami. He ended up with seven sacks and will be the beneficiary of playing alongside one of the top defensive tackle groups in the country in 2022. The best way to use this graphic as a potential college football player is to be realistic about your prospects in college. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH LSU FANS AT TIGERDETAILS.COM. He was a solid defender for Clemson, playing better than the numbers illustrate. George Karlaftis, Purdue: In 2019 he tied for first on the team in sacks and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Anderson was clutch against Texas A&M as well, but he was unusually quiet versus Tennessee. Possible run schemes: Power, counter and other gap schemes. Vrabel's 36 sacks and 66 tackles for loss still rank as tops all-time at Ohio State. Not only was he a overwhelming pass rusher, but he was a strong, tough run defender. These 20 defenders can intimidate the best offensive linemen, which is why theyre often double-teamed. Emmanuel Acho believes LSU is the top defensive back factory, while Jonathan Vilma sides with the Ohio State secondary. The Texas native is dangerous off the edge and a natural in pass coverage. The six-foot-three, 255-pounder also had sacks against Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Baylor. ZWwpOwogIH0pKCk7Cjwvc2NyaXB0PgoKPG5vc2NyaXB0PgogIDxpbWcgc3Jj Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh: The Panthers led the league in sacks per game last season and he was a big reason why. He was third in the SEC in sacks, with seven, while also recording 10.5 tackles for a loss and 52 tackles. JmNzX3VjZnI9MCIgLz4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KPCEtLSBFbmQgY29tU2NvcmUg He is a dangerous edge rusher with speed and athleticism. While College Football has always had a ton of scoring and offense it continues to adapt to include more and more passing. 7/7/22: Anderson was the rare freshman to start on Nick Saban's defense, but Anderson proved his special ability with a superb 2020 season. Top 10 QBs in college football entering the 2022 season. His play disappointed, and he did not make a big impact as a pass rusher. 17. For a player who had no stars out of high school, Jones certainly made his presence felt in the Mountain West. By: Pete Fiutak, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, College Basketball Rankings: Top 68 Teams February 27. Johnson had three solo tackles and forced a fumble at Notre Dame. The Kansas City native tallied three tackles for loss, three sacks and forced two fumbles in the win over Southern Illinois. Tre Williams, Arkansas 10b. These 20 defensive ends brought pressure and made their presence felt from the weak and strong-side in 2020. He generated four solo tackles, including a season-high, three sacks in the victory over Washington State. General manager Ryan Poles has just six draft picks to work with, including none in the first round. VanValkenburg had no stars behind his name out of high school. 2/18/23: Foskey totaled 45 tackles, 11 sacks and one forced fumble in 2022. Shaquil Barrett, Buccaneers. Now hell be one of the best returning defenders in the league this fall. He combined for seven solo stops and two sacks in victories over Boston College and Florida State. Ron Stone, Washington State: The former three-star prospect is coming off a spectacular campaign in 2021. The former two-star prospect had 3.5 of those sacks against the Bulldogs and he broke up four passes. Ojulari could be a good fit in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker. As a true sophomore last season, he started to deliver on all the hype and made clutch plays on the field. USA TODAY - Josh Keatley 4h. The Ohio native had three three solo tackles and a sack in the road victory at Nebraska. VGFnIC0tPgoKCg==, Enjoying Rivals? However, Martin left a lasting impression with two tackles for loss and two sacks in the New Years Six Bowl victory over Notre Dame. Karlaftis was also tied for third in the league in sacks when he got injured. Not to mention Harrison left a lasting impression with solid performance in the Rose Bowl. The Sun Devils defense played their best against the rival Wildcats on the road, and held them to single digits. 2/18/23: Harrison totaled 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and four passes broken up in 2022. He had some painful penalties against Texas, but he also has made some clutch plays for the Crimson Tide. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington: Last year he finished with 13 total tackles, but seven of those went for sacks. He was a high-motor guy that came off the edge and simply outworked the man in front of him. Mathis generated 11 tackles for loss over the Horned Frogs final six games and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. Not to mention he had two solo stops and a season-high, 2.5 sacks in the victory over Central Michigan. Kayvon Thibodeaux (said Tib-uh-doe) is the consensus number 1 Defensive Linemen in 2021. The defensive end is usually matched up with an offensive tackle and, in addition to his pass-rushing duties, is responsible to contain the opposing team's running back, or keep him from. Team sources like Foskey's size, but they feel he is extremely stiff, which makes them concerned his sack production won't translate to the NFL. He generated four solo stops, including three behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks in the win at West Virginia. 7/6/22: Foskey broke out for the Fighting Irish as a sophomore in 2021, recording 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and 52 tackles. With another big season, he's a lock to be a top-15 pick in the 2023 draft. Stone will be one of the most feared defenders in the Pac-12 North in 2022. Harrison put up solid numbers in the 10 games he played last season. A: NAME: TEAM: COLLEGE: Addison, Mario: Houston Texans: Troy: Allen, Zach: Arizona Cardinals 3. * Draft Rankings: Ranked No. Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State 5. The Oklahoma native also put the quarterback to the turf against North Texas and Arkansas. 7/7/22: Anudike broke out as a sophomore for the Wildcats in 2021, ripping off 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and 52 tackles. Thomas is arguably the most versatile defensive linemen in the league and he excels along the edge and in the interior. Tuipulotu is listed at 6-foot-4, but he might be more like 6-foot-3. Jordan Ferguson, Middle Tennessee: The Atlanta native led the Blue Raiders in tackles for loss and sacks last season. He played hard and totaled 55 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. Not to mention Patchan averaged nearly two tackles for loss per game, which ranked sixth-best in the country. 2/18/23: In 2022, Baldonado totaled 24 tackles, three passes batted and two sacks. 2/18/23: Cox played well for Florida in 2022, putting more pressure on the quarterback than his numbers - two sacks and 35 tackles - indicate. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl The defensive end lines up at the end of the defensive line. The six-foot-five, 275-pounder put the quarterback to the turf in the season-opener against Georgia. The former three-star prospect finished the season with second-team, All-ACC honors for the ACC Champs. Zach VanValkenburg, Iowa: The Hawkeyes are a hotbed for elite defensive lineman and hes their latest version. One big freak of a machine, Murphy racked up a long list of awards during the 2022 NCAA Season including First Team All-ACC team and ranked 33rd among all College Football Players in 2022. They're the dangerous disruptive forces who can change games, and some schools - like Oklahoma - are about to get an instant jolt. Year 1 (2023): $400,000. He had a jaw-dropping, three sacks in the win over Texas Tech. Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati 10a. Johnson earned second-team All-Pac-12 for his contributions and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2021. The following week Watts generated three solo stops, including a sack and forced a fumble in the win over Gardner-Webb. Packed with a tremendous amount of lower body strength, flexible hips and a non-stop motor, edge rushers set the tone up front. Booker tallied 21 tackles, including four solo in the win over UCLA. The month of March is approaching, and that means spring ball will soon be in the air. He also tallied two sacks apiece at Kansas and on Senior Day against Louisiana Tech. He finished the year with second-team All-Pac-12 honors. He had three solo stops and a sack in the victory over Boston College. In just seven games Irwin tallied seven tackles for loss and six sacks. Hall also tallied four solo stops against Penn State and Ole Miss. Elite quick-twitch get off skills. Young could easily be better in 2022 thanks to having a year of starting experience under his belt. Some scouts have compared Wilson to Carlos Dunlap in terms of his skill set and potential. He tallied 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in just four games. He racked up two tackles for loss and a sack in the win at Texas. He has some ability, but possesses a tweener body type that could limit him for the NFL. Anudike-Uzomah came out of nowhere as a redshirt freshman in 2021 to have 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, buoyed by a four-sack, two-forced fumble performance against TCU. White and Strahan were considered the best defensive ends of their generation. He lines up as an outside linebacker and will put his hand in the ground as a defensive end. One of our representatives will be in touch shortly. DEs will be matched up against offensive tackles on almost every play. Hence, he might be more of a designated pass rusher as a pro. Amaewhule tallied seven sacks and broke up nine passes in eight games. 16. 2/18/23: Incoom did not do much in 2021, recording 3.5 sacks and 27 tackles against lesser competition, but he broke out as a senior, ripping off 11.5 sacks, 57 tackles and one forced fumble. 2/18/23: In 2022, Land totaled 22 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble. Barrett might be the best value bet for Defensive Player of the Year. He dipped to four sacks in 2021, and rebounding in 2022 is necessary for him to rise. While ranking among the best defensive ends in all of College Football, Florida State Seminoles Jared Verse has elected to return to school for the upcoming 2023 College Football season. Headlining the list of the top defensive ends in College Football is the Clemson Tigers star defensive player Myles Murphy. Johnson made several stops, including a sack against Eastern Michigan. Just like the Defensive Line, you want to keep everything consistent for the Inside Linebackers. 7/7/22: Friday has yet to produce a big season for the Buckeyes, but he has shown enough ability to make it onto NFL teams' preseason watch list. biB2ZXJzaW9uIG9mIGNzLmpzIHNvIHdlIGFsd2F5cyBoYXZlIHRoZSBsYXN0 Not to mention Clemson finished second in the league in tackles for loss and sacks per game. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GEORGIA FANS AT UGASPORTS.COM. 20 Sacks, three forced fumbles, six passes defended and 47 tackles over the past two years lets you know how good Nick Herbig is and how important he has been to the Wisconsin Badgers defense. Not only was he a overwhelming pass rusher, but he was a strong, tough run defender. 20. IHZhciBzID0gZG9jdW1lbnQuY3JlYXRlRWxlbWVudCgic2NyaXB0IiksIGVs While the numbers and statistics might not show up on the internet or in the box score, it still doesnt take away how impactful Baldonado is and how much potential he has as one of the best defensive ends in all of College Football.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-box-4','ezslot_5',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-box-4-0'); The Panthers star defensive end who missed the end of the season to an undisclosed injury has all the physical tools and abilities to be an everyday menace in the NFL. The top edge rusher for the Buckeyes, the former five-star started to put it all together in 2021 despite being nagged by injuries. Murphy is the real deal and should blossom more in year two. Not to mention he tallied 7.5 tackles for loss over TCUs final four games. Henry showcased his ability to be an everyday defensive end this season while racking up career highs with 51 tackles while posting 3.5 sacks to go along with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and six passes defended. Top 10 College Football Team Rankings 2022-2023, Top 10 College Football Player Rankings 2022-2023, Top 10 Freshman Football Players 2022-2023 Rankings, Top 10 College Football Quarterbacks 2022-2023 Rankings, Top 10 College Football Running Backs 2022-2023 Rankings, Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2022-2023 Rankings, Top 10 College Football Offensive Tackles 2022-2023 Rankings, Top 10 College Football Offensive Guards 2022-2023 Rankings. 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