Top 25 College Football Interior Defensive Linemen

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 interior defensive linemen heading into the 2024 season.

Note: While projection of what a player can be is considered, most rankings are from what has been seen on the field. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.

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25. Darrell Jackson, Florida State Seminoles

Jackson transferred from Miami to Florida State last season, but only played one game before getting injured. In 2022 for the Hurricanes, he had 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

24. Dezmond Tell, Louisville Cardinals

Tell is entering his fourth season at Louisville with the last two providing good results. He has at least four tackles for loss and two sacks in each of the last two seasons.

23. J.R. Singleton, Iowa State Cyclones

Singleton hadn’t produced much in his college career until last season, when he started producing more. He finished the 2023 season with 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

22. Lee Hunter, UCF Knights

Hunter did ok in 2022 as a freshman, but really took a step forward last season. He totaled 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.

21. Patrick Jenkins, Tulane Green Wave

Jenkins proved to be one of the best interior defensive linemen in the group of five. In 2023, he had 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

20-16

20. Jordan Burch, Oregon Ducks

Burch played three seasons for South Carolina before transferring to Oregon for last season. He did well in his first with the Ducks, as he registered 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

19. Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Although his first three seasons at Nebraska didn’t see Hutmacher produce much, 2023 was a different story. He had eight sacks and 4.5 sacks last season.

18. Omari Thomas, Tennessee Volunteers

Thomas is entering his fifth season with Tennessee and has manned the middle of the defensive line. He had 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2023.

17. Junior Tafuna, Utah Utes

Over three seasons with Utah, Tafuna has tallied 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He’ll be looking to up his production and match what he did as a freshman, when he racked up 4.5 sacks, this season.

16. Davin Vann, NC State Wolfpack

Vann has shown the ability to defend the run and rush the passer over his time at NC State. In 2023, he had seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

15-11

15. Rylie Mills, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Mills has produced a little bit in each season he has been with Notre Dame. His best season was actually 2022 with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

14. Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech Hokies

At Duke, Peebles played four seasons, but last year was his best with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He is now playing for Virginia Tech, where he is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the ACC.

13. Joshua Farmer, Florida State Seminoles

While Florida State lost a lot of talent, Farmer returns after a great 2023. He registered 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks for the Seminoles as they went undefeated in the regular season.

12. Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina Gamecocks

After having eight tackles for loss and four sacks in 2022, Hemingway had a decent year in 2023 with 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His production may have taken a dip, but Hemingway still plays an important role in the defense.

11. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State Buckeyes

Williams is part of a great defensive line returning to Ohio State. Last season, he had 10 tackles for loss and three sacks.

10-6

10. Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia has several playmakers, but Stackhouse does a good job of providing a presence in the middle. He totaled three tackles for loss and two sacks last season.

9. Peter Woods, Clemson Tigers

Woods may have only had 2.5 tackles for loss and no sacks last season, but he showed potential. Now that he is projected to start, Woods should take a huge step up in production.

8. Bear Alexander, USC Trojans

USC’s defense hasn’t been great over the last few seasons, but Alexander has provided some hope. He had 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

7. Shemar Turner, Texas A&M Aggies

Turner showed he can wreak havoc in 2023 with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He will be a part of a good Texas A&M defensive line in the 2024 season.

6. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss Rebels

Nolen was a former prized recruit at Texas A&M and is now playing for Ole Miss. After netting 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season, a big season is expected of him in 2024.

5-1

5. Kenneth Grant, Michigan Wolverines

Michigan has a great interior defensive line for 2024 and Grant is a part of it. He had five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2023.

4. Howard Cross III, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Cross has been productive for the Fighting Irish for the last three seasons. In 2023, he had seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

3. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati Bearcats

Corleone had some blood clot issues this offseason, but when he is on the field, he makes an impact. He has had 12 tackles for loss and six sacks in his first two seasons for the Bearcats.

2. Deone Walker, Kentucky Wildcats

Walker is a huge defensive tackle, but also moves well for his size. He impacts the game more than the statline says, but had 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last season.

1. Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines

Graham helped lead Michigan to a national championship with 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He and Grant will be hard for most interior offensive lines to block.

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