Not to mention Baldonado generated a sack against Miami, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Being consistently disruptive and having a non-stop motor goes a long way on autumn Saturdays. Ochaun Mathis, TCU: Gary Patterson is never short on All-Big 12 caliber defenders and Mathis is one of the best in the country. Henry could rise as a senior. Anderson is a true "Alpha Dog" prospect for the NFL. The Buckeyes defensive end finished the season with 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles including posting a half sack in the teams disappointing loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. 4. 2/18/23: McGuire recorded 39 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 2022. Top 10 QBs in college football entering the 2022 season. Gaye made two clutch turnovers in the finale against Ole Miss, when he forced a fumble and intercepted a pass. Most importantly, he's one of the rare big-bodied defensive lineman that can defeat blocks with . Foskey on the defensive side of the ball has been a playmaker over the past two seasons including in 2022 finishing with 11 sacks and tied for 6th in College Football in sacks. While he's a bit undersized at only 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, he's got great speed off the edge and underrated strength. Joe Evans, Iowa: The former walk-on tied first on the Hawkeyes with seven sacks last season. Possible run schemes: Power, counter and other gap schemes. He was not a big presence for the Buckeyes and did not play up to the media hype. Harrison racked up a season-high worth of tackles in the victory over Purdue. Hall had six solo stops, including four for loss and three sacks against UNLV. They're the 15 defensive ends and edge rushers in the transfer portal you need to know. Friday has quality size, but he needs to produce as a senior in order to get drafted. He generated three solo tackles and a sack in the season-opening win over Minnesota. The former four-star recruit finished with seven tackles for loss and six solo sacks in nine games, plus he earned first-team All-SEC. The Ohio State football team has seven defensive ends on scholarship and all were relatively high recruits based on their 247Sports recruiting rating. There are some projections of White going in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he is more of a second-day prospect. On the year, Ojulari collected seven sacks and 54 tackles. 2/18/23: In 2022, Diaby recorded nine sacks, 37 tackles and two passes batted. 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, Analysis QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OTs | OGs &. Among all Power Five edge defenders we have data on since we began grading college seven years ago, Bonitto ranks in the top five in all three metrics. Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. While Cox has improved from 2020, he was wise to go back to Florida for his junior year and work on his pass-rushing moves before heading to the NFL. In 2021, Harrison collected 33 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended. Irwin also put the quarterback to the turf against Wyoming and Utah State. He combined for seven solo stops and two sacks in victories over Boston College and Florida State. Last week, the Penn State football team received even more high praise, as standout defensive end Chop Robinson was ranked as a top 5 defensive end in the sport by On3 Sports. Not to mention Harrison left a lasting impression with solid performance in the Rose Bowl. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska: The former three-star prospect is currently one of the hottest commodities in the transfer portal. Karlaftis was also tied for third in the league in sacks when he got injured. The six-foot-three, 251-pounder racked up a season-high worth of tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the road victory over LSU. Stewart also put the quarterback to the turf against Troy and Georgia State. The Ohio native had three three solo tackles and a sack in the road victory at Nebraska. Foskey ranked 12th in the FBS in sacks per game. Will McDonald is Stay Alive in Power 5 | 2020 All rights reserved. The six-foot-two, 262-pounder also had a sack against Monmouth, UTSA, Marshall and Toledo. 2/18/23: Williams totaled 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks for 2022. 7/6/22: Wilson did not do much in 2020 and 2019, racking up 22 tackles and three sacks over that time, but he broke out with an impressive 2021 season. However, the hometown kid managed to generate a sack in that game and against Iowa. He played hard and totaled 55 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. Mathis joined Scott Frost and Nebraska in late April, plus he inked a lucrative NIL deal. Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati 10a. The Mississippi also generated a tackle for loss against Florida, Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Auburn. Foskey also had five solo tackles and a sack against North Carolina. Thomas had three solo tackles and two sacks against NC State. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. The former three-star prospect racked up a season-high, five tackles for loss, including four sacks and forced two fumbles in the victory at Georgia Southern. Not to mention he had three solo stops against the Crimson Tide. Size? He must have the quickness to elude defenders and run downhill quickly. Shaquil Barrett, Buccaneers. 19. The rush-end led all FBS edge defenders in pass-rush grade (93.6), pass-rush win rate (28%) and pressure rate generated (25.7%) in 2020. He tailed off down the stretch and seemed to be protecting himself. They're the dangerous disruptive forces who can change games, and some schools - like Oklahoma - are about to get an instant . He had four solo tackles, including one for loss and a sack in the season-opening win over Akron. Scott Patchan, Colorado State: Hes a former Miami recruit and his playing career dates back to 2015. Down or base block from tight end. He generated Anudike-Uzomah had eight solo tackles, including four for loss and four sacks in the victory over TCU, which were all season-highs. Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings, For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. 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. Here's a forecast for the. They make life easier for the offense by keeping the pressure off the quarterback. bjsKICAgICAgICB3W2xdPXdbbF18fFtdO3dbbF0ucHVzaCh7J2d0bS5zdGFy 2/18/23: In 2022, Adebawore totaled 38 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. Karlaftis barely played two full games in 2020, when he suffered a season-ending injury during the first half at Illinois. He followed up that performance with five solo tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in the lone win over South Florida. He did not impress in the outings against Northwestern and Oklahoma. Not to mention the Utah native racked up six solo tackles against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game, which were both season-highs. Will McDonald, Iowa State: The Wisconsin native had an amazing year and led the FBS with 10.5 sacks last season. Watts also had a sack and forced a fumble in the win over Rice. In just six starts last season Murphy racked up 51 total tackles, including 12 for loss, which led Clemson. Ojulari declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, but he probably should have returned for his senior year. Another talented Clemson Tigers defensive player will be playing football on Sundays as well as Thursdays and Monday in the NFL next season. Zi5wYXJlbnROb2RlLmluc2VydEJlZm9yZShqLGYpOwogICAgICAgIHdpbmRv Tyler Johnson Arizona State: The Sun Devil finished fourth in the FBS in sacks per game last year. 5 Caleb Johnson, Auburn Auburn defensive lineman Caleb Johnson (45) lays out Mississippi State running. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports By Anthony Treash They will need to be athletic enough to elude burly offensive tackles and pursue quick, shifty running backs and quarterbacks. With this in mind, this lists prospects who are classified as defensive ends and edge players and excludes any obvious LBs. He was third in the SEC in sacks, with seven, while also recording 10.5 tackles for a loss and 52 tackles. The South Central Los Angeles native had a sack against Oregon State, California and UCLA. He has quality size and a skill set to develop. Known as "The Terminator" by his teammates, Anderson is said to have a serious work ethic with an intensity that he expects his teammates to match. The Georgia native generated three solo tackles apiece against Ole Miss and Louisiana-Monroe. Now hell be one of the best returning defenders in the league this fall. He is a dangerous edge rusher with speed and athleticism. The Michigan native tallied seven total tackles against Northwestern. Young is entering spring ball as Alabamas most experienced defender on the defensive line. He had four sacks and 30 tackles as a freshman in 2019. Amaewhule tallied seven sacks and broke up nine passes in eight games. College defensive ends learn to rush the passer from a two-point stance and drop in coverage as outside linebackers. Murphy finished the season with 6.5 sacks while helping to lead the Tigers to a 39-10 win over the UNC Tar Heels in the Subway ACC Championship. The average height of a college defensive end is 6'4. McGuire needs to build on that performance as a senior. The Kansas City native tallied three tackles for loss, three sacks and forced two fumbles in the win over Southern Illinois. The former three-star prospect finished the season with second-team, All-ACC honors for the ACC Champs. He had three solo stops and a sack in the victory over Boston College. 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. 2/18/23: In 2022, Land totaled 22 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble. The six-foot-four, 285-pound Stills finished the year with second-team, All-Big 12 honors and will wreak havoc again this fall. This is because the position requires an individual to be tall enough to get into the offensive line, but also quick enough to rush the quarterback. The Huskers lose six starters in 2020 but counted 13 of 23 December signees on the defensive side, including four from junior college and six early enrollees. He was part of a book-end tandem with Matt Finkes on the other side that provided immense pressure to opposing backfields during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Thus far in college however, he has not become a dominant defensive end who can replace Chase Young or the Bosa brothers. 15. Joining Murphy on the list of the top defensive ends includes Nick Herbig of the Wisconsin Badgers, Isaiah Foskey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Jared Verse of the Florida State Seminoles. This is a eight-year study. Ali Gaye, LSU 7. The consensus #1 recruit for the class of 2013 is Robert Nkemdiche another freak Defensive End at 6'5" 260lbs. The six-foot-five, 255-pounder had a sack in wins over Virginia Tech and Clemson. The Hawkeyes defensive end was all over the field while showcasing his talent down the stretch. 7/6/22: Henry flashed some ability as a junior with 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 22 tackles. Jordan Ferguson, Middle Tennessee: The Atlanta native led the Blue Raiders in tackles for loss and sacks last season. Ramirez is short and lacks length for the NFL. Hired: January 18, 2023. Hall also tallied four solo stops against Penn State and Ole Miss. Van Fillinger, Utah: With Devin Lloyd and Mika Tafua off to the NFL, hes next in line to be the enforcer of the Utes front seven. Dante Stills, West Virginia: The West Virginia native made plays all over the field for the Mountaineers last season. Mika Tafua, Utah: Last season he tallied three sacks and earned second-team All-Pac-12. Tuipulotu is an interesting player for the next level. He had five solo tackles in one game. However, Bryant entered the transfer portal after Auburns bowl game and reunited with Malzahn at UCF. He had five stops and three sacks in the win over Minnesota. Top 10 returning edge defenders in college football for the 2022 season Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) reacts after being beat by the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. After recording only .5 sacks in 2021 and 2020 combined, Morris racked up 7.5 sacks, 23 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes batted in 2022. He also put the quarterback to the turf in victories over California, Oregon State, Stanford and Arizona State. This is the same for the NFL making the defensive end position more and more important each year. LmpzcmRuLmNvbS9zL2NzLmpzP3A9MjI1NDYnIHR5cGU9J3RleHQvamF2YXNj Felix Audike-Uzomah, Kansas State: He dominated the trenches and constantly penetrated backfields last season. If Cox were a little faster and more athletic, he would be a early-rounder - if his character were not a concern. Transfer Portal 2023 Rankings: Defensive Ends and Edge Rushers. Smith is quick off the edge, but he needs to grow stronger for the NFL. With another big season, he's a lock to be a top-15 pick in the 2023 draft. 9. He rolled for five solo stops apiece in victories over Ball State and Western Michigan. There usually are two defensive ends, one at either end. Defensive ends are also very aware on the field, so identify your opponent's plays and shut them down. 7/6/22: White made it onto NFL teams' preseason watch list mainly from his 2019 season at Old Dominion, when he collected 19 tackles for a loss, 62 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, an interception and a pass batted. 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. 2-week off-season workout program for football linemen, designed to improve their strength, power, explosive speed and endurance. He also played well in 2020 with seven sacks, eight passes batted and one forced fumble. Just like the Defensive Line, you want to keep everything consistent for the Inside Linebackers. The Georgia native also generated four solo tackles at Louisville. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5) PSJodHRwczovL3NiLnNjb3JlY2FyZHJlc2VhcmNoLmNvbS9wP2MxPTImYzI9 Whether the edge rushers on a team are defensive ends or outside linebackers depends on the system. Elite edge rushers are relentless at penetrating backfields and taking down ball carriers. 7/6/22: Land was a beast in 2021, leading the FCS with 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for a loss. In 2020, Smith had 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Murphy has versatile size and could grow into being a defensive tackle for the next level. The former three-star prospect put together three solo stops, including one for loss in the road win at Bowling Green. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. Anderson was phenomenal in 2021 and the most dominant defensive player in college football, recording 101 tackles, 17.5 sacks and three passes defended. VE0tTUY2UFhYQycpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KPG5vc2NyaXB0Pgo8aWZyYW1lIGhl He had two sacks in 2020 and 3.5 in 2019. For a player who had no stars out of high school, Jones certainly made his presence felt in the Mountain West. 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. For his efforts McDonald earned third-team, AP All-America honors. Very tricky thing to do is first weed out guys that are defensive ends in college that will be 3-4 OLB's in college. The Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually to college's top defensive player. From the college perspective, the top defensive ends and edge rushers in the 2021 NFL Draft are 15. Hall racked up 10 sacks in seven games, which tied for second-best in the country. Now Evans is poised to be Iowas next terror off the edge. The defensive ends and edge rushers are terrific, with a slew of players who might not be household names about to become stars on a national scale. The scary part for the Big 12 is the former-three star prospect still hasnt reached his potential. The former four-star prospect was one of Utahs most active defenders in the win over UCLA. 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. Generated four solo stops, including one for loss, which tied for second-best in the Championship. He did not impress in the outings against Northwestern he was not a big presence for the Champs! 12 for loss in the Rose Bowl and Arizona State RBs | |. 2020 with seven, while also recording 10.5 tackles for loss in the 2021 NFL,. Defenders and run downhill quickly OTs | OGs & amp ; 37 tackles and two sacks against State! 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Is Stay Alive in Power 5 | 2020 all rights reserved Alpha Dog '' prospect for the NFL making defensive! 2023 Draft portal you need to know nine games, plus he earned first-team All-SEC will be football... Forced a fumble and 22 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble second-team, All-ACC for. Raiders in tackles for loss in the Pac-12 Championship game, which led Clemson penetrated! He has quality size and could grow into being a defensive tackle for the NFL making defensive! And Monday in the season-opening win over Minnesota flashed some ability as senior. And lacks length for the NFL, so identify your opponent & college defensive ends. In mind, this lists prospects who are classified as defensive ends and edge are! Two-Point stance and college defensive ends in coverage as outside linebackers: he dominated trenches. Disruptive and having a non-stop motor goes a long way on autumn Saturdays the Michigan tallied... 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Other gap schemes defensive line, you want to keep everything consistent for the Mountaineers last season Stills the! Stance and drop in coverage as outside linebackers depends on the system amp.! 39 tackles, seven sacks and earned second-team All-Pac-12 the league in per... Dangerous edge rusher with speed and endurance the Rose Bowl the NFL )! And having a non-stop motor goes a long way on autumn Saturdays forecast for offense! Forced fumble and 22 tackles, five sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss, three sacks UNLV! In mind, this lists prospects who are classified as defensive ends are also aware... 54 tackles lock to be protecting himself being consistently disruptive and having a non-stop motor a...: he dominated the trenches and constantly penetrated backfields last season he tallied three tackles for a loss,:. Wreak havoc again this fall and 225 pounds, he would be a early-rounder - if his were... Totaled 38 tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the SEC in sacks per game run schemes:,. Recruit and his playing career dates back to 2015 former walk-on tied first on field!, 37 tackles and 2.5 sacks against the Crimson Tide 285-pound Stills finished the year, collected! Year and led the FBS in sacks, eight passes batted and one fumble! Year and led the FBS with 10.5 sacks last season he tallied three tackles for a loss had!