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 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. Ian Geffrard, Texas Longhorns
Geffrard had some nice seasons at Arkansas, which included four tackles for loss last season. He now joins a good Texas defensive line where his talents can now shine.
24. John Walker, Ohio State Buckeyes
Walker had three tackles for loss and one sack for UCF in 2025, but did have more success with the Knights earlier as well. He transferred to Ohio State to join a good rotation of interior defensive linemen.
23. Jamarious Brown, Ole Miss Rebels
Brown pairs well with someone higher on this list, but does well for himself too. He has four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
22. Rondo Porter, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Porter had one tackle for loss and one sack for South Carolina in 2024, then had five tackles for loss and two sacks for Appalachian State last season. Now, he’ll step up to the Big Ten with Rutgers.
21. Hero Kanu, Texas Longhorns
Kanu was a rotational player at Ohio State for three seasons before he stepped into a starting role for Texas last season. He had four tackles for loss and two sacks.
20. Bryce Butler, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech will have a good interior defensive line with Butler being a factor in it. He had 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks last season for Washington.
19. James Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
Smith transfers in from Alabama after totaling 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Ohio State’s defensive line will be strong on the interior with Smith being the biggest part of it.
18. CJ Fite, Arizona State Sun Devils
Fite has 12 tackles for loss and three sacks over three seasons for Arizona State. He will be one of Arizona State’s best players heading into 2026.
17. Mario Landino, Indiana Hoosiers
Landino made a huge impact on Indiana’s national championship run last season with six tackles for loss and five sacks. He will now be joined by other players on defense for a chance at a repeat.
16. Santana Hopper, Colorado Buffaloes
Hopper is one of the more productive defensive linemen in the country over his career at Appalachian State and Tulane. He is now at Colorado with 26.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks under his belt.
15. Eddrick Houston, Ohio State Buckeyes
Houston played a big role on Ohio State’s defense last season with four tackles for loss and three sacks. He is one of three Buckeyes on this list, so they can all help the team do better this season.
14. Tavion Gadson, Kentucky Wildcats
While he didn’t play much in his first two seasons at Kentucky, Gadson was impactful last season. He had four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season, but now can be a bright spot on the Wildcat defense.
13. Francis Brewu, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Brewu started his career at Pitt, where he had 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. This offseason, he transferred to Notre Dame, where he bolsters an already very talented defense.
12. Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Ibirogba had 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks last season for Wake Forest. Now, he will join a good Texas Tech defensive line, which could give him more opportunity to produce.
11. Elijah Griffin, Georgia Bulldogs
A Freshman All-American last season with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack, Griffin has a chance to move up this list significantly this year. If he plays well, Georgia’s defense and team can improve.
10. Bear Alexander, Oregon Ducks
Alexander has bounced around from Georgia to USC and Oregon. Last season with the Ducks, he had 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack, showing solid production.
9. Justin Scott, Miami Hurricanes
Scott was a part of a talented defensive line last year at Miami and will be hoping to help that continue. He had 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack last season during Miami’s CFP run.
8. Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech Hokies
Copeland started his career at Army, but transferred to Virginia Tech. Last season with the Hokies, he had 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He will be a big part of James Franklin’s first team at Virginia Tech.
7. Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners have a great defensive interior and Jackson has produced a lot in his young career. He had five tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
6. Tyrique Tucker, Indiana Hoosiers
Tucker had great stats for an interior defensive linemen last season as Indiana went on a national championship run. He had 12 tackles for loss and six sacks, but makes an impact beyond the box score as well.
5. A’Mauri Washington, Oregon Ducks
Washington is one of many Ducks that could’ve gone pro, but decided to return to school. He had 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season and a better season could help lead Oregon to a national championship.
4. Will Echoles, Ole Miss Rebels
Echoles was a big reason why Ole Miss had so much success last season with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Another good year could help the Rebels make the CFP again.
3. David Stone, Oklahoma Sooners
Stone had eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season as part of a great Oklahoma defensive line. He could end up being the first interior defensive lineman taken in the 2027 NFL Draft, as he is very athletic for his size.
2. Ahmad Moten, Miami Hurricanes
Moten feasted last season with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. There will be new faces around him in Miami, but he should still be able to produce and help the team win games.
1. AJ Holmes, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Holmes started his career at Houston and transferred to Texas Tech last season. Over the last two years, he has 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The production is there and he is a player for defenses to gameplan around.
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