Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 5 of college football
Week 4 saw some big shifts in the On3 Top 25 edge rusher rankings. All told, five players re-emerged or made a debut in the Top 25 ahead of Week 5.
One player, following a blistering defensive performance, has risen from unranked to the fringe of the Top 5. Others continue impressive climbs, while the Top 5 remains relatively unchanged.
The conference breakdown is as follows: Eight from the SEC, five from the Pac-12, four each from the ACC and Group of 5 teams, and two each from the Big 10 and Big 12.
The full Top 25 edge rusher rankings are below.
1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
UCLA lost on Saturday but the defense was not to be blamed. The Bruins gave up just seven points, as a pick six for Utah on the first play of the game set the tone and put UCLA in a hole.
Latu was plenty impactful, though, but game script didn’t pan out for many counting stats. Against a running quarterback in a run-friendly game plan, his splash plays were limited.
2. Jared Verse, Florida State
Florida State is 4-0, with wins over LSU and at Clemson, but a cursory look at the stat sheet doesn’t show Verse popping. But the senior has been plenty effective.
On Saturday, he had five pressures and four stops, but didn’t record a traditional stat. Head coach Mike Norvell has been pleased with his performance, despite the lack of eye-catching stats.
3. Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Rucker keeps causing a ruckus off the edge for North Carolina. This was again the case as the Tar Heels got a road win.
Rucker finished with two sacks and five total stops, one of the most impactful weekends for a player at his position. While the offense gets plenty of press, the Tar Heels defense has looked improved to start 2023 with Rucker playing an outsize role.
4. Dallas Turner, Alabama
Turner is skyrocketing up the rankings with his recent play. He was the best player on the field for moments between Alabama and Ole Miss on Saturday.
He had a pair of sacks and another 1.5 tackles for loss against the Rebels. He’s got 4.5 sacks in his last two games.
5. Chris Braswell, Alabama
Turner benefits from an equally impressive rusher crashing the other end for the offensive line in Braswell. The duo have turned it up as the Alabama defense has appeared to round into form.
Braswell has 3.5 sacks in the last two games and also batted down a pass. He and Turner will be racing to the finish line in terms of production for the Crimson Tide.
6. Jonah Elliss, Utah
Elliss flew from outside the Top 25 altogether all the way up to No. 6 in the rankings. A near flawless game against UCLA carried the day for him.
Playing against a true freshman quarterback, the Utah defense feasted. Elliss in particular ate up the opportunity, finishing with four sacks and nine pressures and nine total stops.
7. Solomon Byrd, USC
In a game where USC did need the defense to make a stop or two to keep an uncomfortable road game from getting too close, Byrd answered the bell. He sacked Drew Pyne twice and totaled five pressures.
He also added four stops. USC will always be trying to outrace teams on offense, but the defense may have some more steel up front in 2023.
8. Grayson Murphy, UCLA
Murphy had a bit of a better day than Latu did. He added a sack and a tackle for loss on Saturday, along with forcing a fumble.
Utah simply wasn’t passing enough or presenting run looks for Murphy or Latu to rack up sacks or repeated plays in the backfield. They still made life hard on the Utes.
9. Sam Burton, Marshall
Burton and Marshall picked up one of the quietly great wins of 2023, beating Virginia Tech. The edge rusher was a big key in holding the visitors to 17 points.
He’s fallen off his torrid pace set in the opener, but Burton still got in on a sack and had five pressures. With Burton and some other pieces, Marshall is putting together an impressive defense.
10. Johnny Walker Jr., Missouri
Missouri held on for a win over Memphis on Saturday and Walker was again productive. He’s emerged as a steady pass rusher on the stout Missouri front through four games.
He’s got three sacks on the season, including one Saturday. He also added a forced fumble.
Edge rushers No. 11 through 25
11. Kydran Jenkins, Purdue
12. Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
13. Nelson Ceaser, Houston
14. Tyler Baron, Tennessee
15. Davin Vann, NC State
16. James Pearce, Tennessee
17. Mykel Williams, Georgia
18. B.J. Green II, Arizona State
19. Owen Porter, Marshall
20. Princely Umanmielen, Florida
21. Khalid Duke, Kansas State
22. Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
23. Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
24. Chop Robinson, Penn State
25. Jalen Green, James Madison
Five players are new to or re-entering the Top 25 this week: Elliss (No. 6), Baron (No. 14), Duke (No. 21), Kamara (No. 23) and Green (No. 25). Falling out of the Top 25, for now, are Toledo’s Terrance Taylor, Washington State’s Ron Stone Jr., Ohio State’s J.T. Tuimoloau, Texas State’s Ben Bell and Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland.