By Mike Farrell
1. Abdul Carter, Penn State
6’3”, 259 lbs. 2024 Stats: 68 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, 12 sacks.
As a freshman, Abdul Carter had 6.5 sacks and was a Freshman All-American. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, Carter led the nation with 23.5 TFL, was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and was a first-team AP All-American.
2. Jalon Walker, Georgia
6’2”, 245 lbs. 2024 Stats: 61 total tackles, 38 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks.
Jalon Walker played in all 29 games as a reserve in 2022 and 2023 with 29 tackles and six sacks. He became the starter in 2024. Walker was named second-team All-SEC, third-team AP All-American, and won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
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3. James Pearce Jr, Tennessee
6’5”, 245 lbs. 2024 Stats: 38 total tackles, 23 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks.
As a freshman, James Pearce Jr. played in all 13 games and had five tackles and two sacks. In 2023, he made three starts, had 10 sacks, and was named first-team All-SEC. Pearce started nine games as a junior, had 7.5 sacks, and was again named first-team All-SEC
4. Mike Green, Marshall
6’3”, 251 lbs. 2024 Stats: 81 total tackles, 38 solo tackles, 17 sacks.
Mike Green spent two seasons at Virginia before transferring to Marshall. He played in all 13 games and had 4.5 sacks in 2023. Green led the nation with 17 sacks, was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and was named second-team AP All-American in 2024.
5. Mykel Williams, Georgia
6’5”, 260 lbs. 2024 Stats: 21 total tackles, 15 solo tackles, 5 sacks.
As a freshman, Mykel Williams led the team with 4.5 sacks and was named a Freshman All-American. In three seasons, he recorded 65 tackles and 14 sacks. Williams played through an ankle injury in 2024. He was named second-team All-SEC in 2023 and 2024.
6. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
6’6”, 290 lbs. 2024 Stats: 31 total tackles, 14 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks.
Shemar Stewart played in all 25 games in his first two seasons with seven starts. He had 34 tackles and three sacks in 2022 and 2023. Stewart started all 12 games for the Aggies in 2024. He was named third-team All-SEC last season.
7. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
6’3”, 257 lbs. 2024 Stats: 37 total tackles, 27 solo tackles, 5 sacks.
Nic Scourton began his career in 2022 at Purdue. He played in 22 games, had 22 tackles and 12 sacks in his two years there. He was named second-team All-Big Ten Conference in 2023. Scourton started all 12 games for A&M and was named first-team All-SEC in 2024.
8. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
6’5”, 260 lbs. 2024 Stats: 80 total tackles, 37 solo tackles, 16.5 sacks.
Donovan Ezeiruaku started 24 games in his first three seasons and was second-team All-ACC in 2022. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, first-team AP All-American, and won the Ted Hendricks Award (nation’s top DE) in 2024. He was second in the nation with 16.5 sacks.
9. Landon Jackson, Arkansas
6’6”, 264 lbs. 2024 Stats: 49 total tackles, 28 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks.
Landon Jackson transferred after one season at LSU in 2021. As a junior, he started all 12 games, had 6.5 sacks, and was named first-team All-SEC in 2023. Jackson again had 6.5 sacks in 12 starts in 2024 and was named second-team All-SEC. He finished with 16 career sacks.
10. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
6’4”, 265 lbs. 2024 Stats: 61 total tackles, 35 solo tackles, 12.5 sacks.
JT Tuimoloau played in every game in his four seasons at OSU, starting 42 of those games. He became the starter at the beginning of 2022 and had 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions. Tuimoloau was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference three times (2022-2024).
