Ranking the Big Ten: Defensive Tackle
As the 2025 college football season quickly approaches, it’s time to look at the top players at each position in the Big Ten.
Today, we continue our annual Ranking the Big Ten series with the defensive tackles. The top three returners chose to remain with their respective programs and wait to pursue NFL dreams.
Previous Ranking the Big Tens: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | OLB
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1. Zane Durant, Penn State
Durant has All-American aspirations in 2025 after spurning the NFL draft and returning for another year in State College.
The 6-foot-1, 292-pounder had a breakout campaign in 2024, doubling his stats from the previous year. Durant finished with 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks on his way to All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. He led Penn State defensive tackles in all three categories.
Durant finished No. 1 among FBS interior defenders with 14 tackles for loss/no-gain in 2024 and racked up 28 pressures, a top-25 mark in the nation. He also tallied 17 hurries and seven QB hits in 658 total snaps, according to PFF.
Penn State’s defensive tackle room lost a bevy of experienced veterans, so Durant will anchor the group from a leadership perspective as well. Despite a smaller frame and adding considerable weight, his quickness and fast-twitch explosiveness causes havoc for opposing offensive lines.
2. Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
Benny is the next in a long line of premier NFL defensive line prospects to suit up for the Wolverines. According to PFF, he is the fifth-rated IDL draft prospect for 2026 and will play a key role up front after Michigan lost Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Kris Jenkins.
Benny has waited in the wings behind dominant D-lineman for multiple years. He suffered a further setback in the 2024 Rose Bowl, as a broken fibula resulted in a laborious recovery process that lasted into the season. Now, he’s fully healthy and primed for a breakout year.
At 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, Benny enters his fifth season with the Wolverines. He played 283 snaps in 2024 but will be a full-time starter for the first time this year. Benny comes off the most productive campaign of his career, racking up 15 pressures, 11 hurries and two QB hits despite playing fewer snaps than 13 other Michigan defenders. He also totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Benny expects to take on a leadership role this season and, in his own words, “finish top-five” in every defensive statistic while earning a first-round draft selection like his predecessors.
3. Aaron Graves, Iowa
Not far behind Benny on PFF’s IDL draft prospects is Graves, sliding into the No. 7 spot ahead of his senior year. The former four-star recruit earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2024 after putting up 33 tackles and six sacks.
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Graves finished last season with 23 total pressures, 12 hurries and five QB hits. His three forced fumbles led the Big Ten, one of which came against Nebraska in a dominant seven-tackle outing.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder was Iowa’s fifth-highest-rated defender in 2024, according to PFF. He finished the season with a 79.4 overall grade thanks to a 79.9 mark in pass-rushing scenarios. After receiving day-three NFL draft feedback, Graves chose to return alongside fellow star defensive end Ethan Hurkett. Graves, Hurkett and Max Llewellyn — who made up 65% of the Hawkeyes’ sack production — are all back for another season.
4. Keeshawn Silver, USC
Silver is the first Big Ten newcomer on this list after transferring to USC from Kentucky. At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, he was the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle in the portal.
Silver started in all 12 games for the Wildcats last year, recording 26 tackles, 10 pressures and seven hurries. The former five-star recruit was one of the highest-ranked defensive tackles in the 2021 class but has yet to live up to the lofty billing. Silver spent two seasons at North Carolina before finding his footing in Lexington, where he posted the best season of his career in 2024.
5. Bear Alexander, Oregon
The rich get richer. Alexander, another former five-star recruit who hasn’t yet met expectations, joins the Ducks after two seasons at USC and one at Georgia.
At 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, his potential is undeniable. However, questions remain after Alexander opted to redshirt and transfer after disagreements with the Trojans’ coaching staff over playing time.
In 2023 — his last full season — Alexander played 608 snaps while racking up 31 pressures and 22 hurries. Of his 48 total tackles, 6.5 were for loss to go along with 1.5 sacks. Alexander was named to the Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team and received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore.
Many close to the program are optimistic about Bear’s ability to return to that level of production alongside a stout Oregon defensive line.
