2023 Defensive Line/Edge Unit Rankings: The SEC and Big Ten boast best groups of front-line talent
With spring practice in the books and the second transfer portal window closing, it’s the perfect time to evaluate some pre-summer 2023 positional unit rankings.
We kickstarted the series with quarterbacks, examining the Top 10 QB rooms in the country in the fall. We’ve also looked at the 2023 running back unit rankings, as well as the 2023 top receiver depth charts and 2023 tight end rooms.
We rounded out the offensive unit rankings looking at the best 10 OL units.
Today, we examine the top 10 defensive line/edge units in college football.
1. Georgia
The Bulldogs have ranked No. 1 or No. 2 nationally in run defense four years running … and that’s not likely to change even with another set of key departures.
Gone are Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, two 1st Round NFL Draft picks, and yet while the Bulldogs may not have a 2024 1st Round pick at defensive line/edge guy next season, this is a group that remains deep and supremely talented.
Georgia brings back vets like Warren Brinson, Zion Logue, Tramel Wathour, and most notably, Nazir Stackhouse (who has real All-SEC potential), while also rotating a slew of former Top 100 recruits as JACK and DE in Mykell Williams, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Darris Smith and Damon Wilson, among others.
With the way UGA schemes up its defense under Kirby Smart, it will never have an individual lead the conference in sacks or tackles for loss, but as a unit, the Bulldogs will always be among the best nationally at stopping the run and creating havoc.
2. Michigan
Despite continued losses to the NFL (Mazi Smith and Mike Morris), the Wolverines’ DL should be a team strength once again in 2023.
They had the best rush defense in the Big Ten last season, and with Kris Jenkins back to punish guards, coupled with the return of massive nose tackle Kenneth Grant ( 6-3, 360 pounds) and tackle Mason Graham, they should once again be super hard to run on.
At pass rusher, second-year coordinator Jesse Minter has a nice mix of options to work with, as Jaylen Harrell and Derrick Moore should see more snaps, but the Wolverines also have the luxury of adding former Coastal Carolina All-Conference performer Josiah Stewart to the mix.
Stewart was one of the stars of Michigan’s spring game and is just two seasons removed from recording 12.5 sacks and 15.5 TFLs for the Chanticleers.
3. Illinois
The Fighting Illini were one of the best defenses in the country in 2022, and while a loaded secondary was a major component of that success, their defensive line was filthy, too.
Illinois might have the best 1-2 interior tandem of nose tackle and defensive tackle in Jer’Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph — two 300+-pound maulers who can both stop the run (just six rushing TDs allowed, second-best nationally) and provide a pass rush presence (a combined 10 sacks and 26 tackles for loss).
They lead a unit that also returns a deep stable of outside linebackers/edge rushers in Seth Coleman, Gabe Jacas and Alec Bryant, who combined for 14 sacks in 2022.
4. Penn State
Despite losing top cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Penn State might have a Top 5 defense in the country in 2023 – and its defensive line/edge unit is a major reason why.
The Nittany Lions, which led the Big Ten in sacks in 2022, boasts a defensive line group of Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac at end with fifth-year seniors Dvon Ellies and Hakeem Beamon on the interior. Notable depth pieces include Dani Dennis-Sutton, Curtis Jacobs and Coziah Izzard.
PSU’s front-line is stacked without even counting sophomore Abdul Carter among the group — who led the team with 6.5 sacks as a WILL linebacker in 2022.
5. Alabama
The Crimson Tide lost All-American pass rusher Will Anderson off their front line, but they still return a potent pair of edge rushers in Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell — both former 5-stars — as well as sturdy set of down-linemen in Timothy Smith, Jamil Burroughs, Jaheim Oatis and Justin Eboigbe — all former blue-chip recruits.
Alabama had the second-most sacks in the SEC last season, and should once again replicate similar stats — even without Anderson. The Tide’s run defense should be better (No. 4 in the SEC in 2022) with the emergence of Oatis and Smith as more reliable contributors.
6. LSU
The Tigers’ defensive line has as much upside as any front-line group in the country in the fall. They have to replace BJ Ojulari and Ali Gaye on the edge, but they bring back sophomore phenom Harold Perkins Jr., who had 8.5 sacks and 14 TFLs last season but could end up playing a lot inside so we’ll see.
Texas transfer Ovie Oghoufo and 5-star freshman Dashawn Womack are other edge options, while LSU’s interior unit should be much better with the return of potential 1st Round pick tackle Maason Smith, who blew out his ACL early in Week 1 against FSU last year.
They also have All-SEC tackle Mekhi Wingo, Sai’vion Jones and death pieces like Arizona transfer Paris Shand and 320-pound nose tackle Jacobian Guillory.
LSU ranked in the middle of the SEC in run defense and TFLs in 2022, and with a deeper, more experienced group, I expect both figures to improve this fall.
7. Iowa
Under veteran coordinator Phil Parker, the Hawkeyes typically have one of the saltiest defenses in the country — and it starts up front.
Lukas Van Ness was a 1st Round pick last month and didn’t even start for Iowa last season.
From a unit that allowed just four rushing touchdowns in 2022 (best in the nation) and was Top 3 in the Big Ten in sacks and TFLs, all four starters return led by ends Deontae Craig and Joe Evans (combined 13.5 sacks). It’s an entirely veteran group, with Evans a sixth-year senior and both tackles (Logan Lee and Yahya Black) upperclassmen, too.
The Hawkeyes are especially deep on the interior, with as many as six guys vying for real rotational snaps. Noah Shannon could start, sophomore Aaron Graves is a former Top 100 recruit, and Terio Thompson was a JUCO All-American last season before transferring to Iowa.
8. FSU
With edge rusher Jared Verse, a future Top 15 pick, and tackle Fabian Lovett both turning down the NFL for a season, the Seminoles’ defensive line/edge group is built around those two future pros.
Verse (9.0 sacks, 17.0 TFLs) is arguably the top pass rusher in the country in 2023, while Lovett is a solid run-stuffing cog at NT.
Elsewhere, sophomore end Patrick Payton, who had 5.0 sacks as a freshman, was one of the standouts of FSU’s spring practice, while the ‘Noles loaded up on DL depth in the portal by landing South Carolina end Gilber Edmond, Central Michigan tackle Braden Fiske, who PFF ranked as a Top 10 interior DL in 2023, and Miami end Darrell Jackson.
9. Clemson
The Tigers lost a pair of 1st Round picks up front last month in Myles Murphy and Bryan Breese, and yet they still have one of the better DLs in the country in 2023.
Tyler Davis looks next in line to hear his name called on Day 1, as the DT is one of the better rush/run interior linemen in the country. Clemson is loaded inside with Davis, Luke Orhorhoro, Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart. Top 50 recruit Vic Burley could push for playing time as well.
Former 5-star Xavier Thomas returned to school, and while he’s battled all sorts of injuries, he has pro potential if healthy. Freshman 5-star Peter Woods projects as a future DT (ala Breese) but he’ll see plenty of snaps at end in 2023.
The one thing this group lacks is a pure speedster off the edge, so there’s an opportunity for one of the freshmen like AJ Hoffler or David Ojiegbe to carve out a role if ready.
10. Ohio State
The Buckeyes could have as many as three potential 1st Round picks on their DL in 2023, with edge/ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer — two former 5-star recruits — buttressing tackle Mike Hall, one of the best interior linemen in the Big Ten.
The waves of talent don’t end there either, as sophomore edge Kenyatta Jackson looks primed for a breakout season, while Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton are two more reliable down-linemen to stop the run.
Honorable Mention: Wisconsin, Missouri, Washington, Texas A&M, UCLA