Top 25 College Football Edge Rushers

The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football edge rushers heading into the 2026 season.

Note: There is some projection in these rankings for the upcoming season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.  

25-21

25. Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana Hoosiers

After six tackles for loss and four sacks last season for Kansas State, Osunsanmi will be looking to up his production for Indiana. 

24. Wendell Gregory, Kansas State Wildcats

Gregory started at South Carolina, then found success at Oklahoma State and now will suit up for Kansas State. Last year with the Cowboys, he had 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. 

23. Mandrell Desir, Florida State Seminoles

Desir was a bright spot for the Seminoles last season with 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a freshman. If he can build on that, he can help Florida State improve. 

22. Kameryn Crawford, USC Trojans

Crawford improved from two sacks to 5.5 from his freshman to his sophomore year. He also had 10.5 tackles for loss last season so more improvement could be coming for the Trojan. 

21. Sidney Stewart, Maryland Terrapins

Stewart impressed as a freshman at Maryland with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. The Terrapins have retained a lot of their young talent as they hope to improve this season. 

20-16

20. Langston Hardy, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

After three seasons at UConn, Hardy broke out last season for Wake Forest. He finished the year with 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks, but will be hoping for more in 2026. 

19. Isaac Terrell, Iowa State Cyclones

Terrell followed head coach Jimmy Rogers from Washington State to Iowa State this offseason after a good 2025. He will enter the 2026 season after having 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

18. Adam Trick, Texas Tech Red Raiders

Over the last four seasons, Trick has developed well at Miami (Ohio). Last season was the best of his career with 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, but now he will test himself in the Big 12.  

17. Taylor Wein, Oklahoma Sooners

Wein didn’t play much in his first two seasons at Oklahoma, but last season was a different story. He delivered 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season and will be a part of one of college football’s best defenses this season. 

16. Trey White, Texas Tech Red Raiders

White had 18.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks for San Diego State in 2024. Even though his production dipped a bit in 2025, he still registered 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Now, he is a part of a new wave of Texas Tech transfer edge rushers looking to make an impact. 

15-11

15. Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State Broncos

Virgin-Morgan has been a menace for Boise State over the last two years, registering 28.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks over that time. He could help Boise State make the CFP again, as they did in 2024. 

14. Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State has rotated edge rushers over the last few seasons, but Jackson has still been productive. The 2025 season was his best yet, as he had 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. 

13. Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Traore has improved every season at Notre Dame, setting him up for a chance at a great finale of a season. Last season, he had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 11 games, so more stats could be coming. 

12. Will Heldt, Clemson Tigers

After transferring from Purdue, Heldt played well on a talented Clemson defensive line last season with 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Now, he will be a leader and needs to produce more. 

11. Teitum Tuioti, Oregon Ducks

Oregon has a good pair of pass rushers, with Tuioti’s progression being really encouraging. He had 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks last season and should have a lot more production this season. 

10-6

10. Yohnzae Pierre, Alabama Crimson Tide

Pierre took a big jump in his sophomore season, as he had 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The Crimson Tide will be looking forward to his progression as a junior. 

9. Clev Lubin, Louisville Cardinals

Lubin was successful at Coastal Carolina with 9.5 sacks, then transferred to Louisville last season and delivered 8.5. His ability to handle the jump in competition gives hope that he can now take another step forward. 

8. Princewill Umanmielen, LSU Tigers

After having 13 total tackles and nine sacks at Ole Miss last season, Umanmielen followed Lane Kiffin to LSU. The defense has some talent and Umanmielen could help them take a step forward. 

7. Quincy Rhodes, Arkansas Razorbacks

Rhodes is a bigger edge rusher who could’ve gone pro, but decided to return to Arkansas. He had 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks for the Razorbacks last season as he looks to build on that. 

6. Damon Wilson, Miami Hurricanes

Wilson transferred from Georgia to Missouri last season, producing 9.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Now, he is tasked with replacing the pass rush that Miami lost to the NFL. 

5-1

5. John Henry Daley, Michigan Wolverines

Kyle Whittingham went from Utah to Michigan and so too did Daley. He had 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the Utes in 2025. If he can do the same at Michigan, it will be considered a great season. 

4. Anthony Smith, Minnesota Golden Gophers

Smith is another edge rusher with good size who could’ve gone pro last season. He had 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2025, making him one of the best edge rushers in the country in 2026. 

3. Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon Ducks

Although his production dipped a bit from 2024 to 2025, Uiagalelei is still one of the best edge rushers in college football. In 2024, he tallied 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks before putting up 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2025. 

2. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina Gamecocks

The sack totals may not be there, but Stewart is a great edge rusher that defenses have to account for. He had 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. A more productive season could aid South Carolina in having a much better season. 

1. Colin Simmons, Texas Longhorns

Simmons has been a great pass rusher and he does more for the Texas defense. He had 15.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season. Texas has a great defense and Simmons is projected to be the first edge rusher selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

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