The 2024/2025 college football season has brought several smothering defenses and top defenders. Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State head the pack based on great performances from their respective defenses. Ohio State heads the list for total defense, which has given up just 251.1 yards per game. Caleb Downs, Abdul Carter, and Harold Perkins Jr. are some of the players who have given great performances. Most notable are Carter’s 21.5 tackles for loss and the versatility of Perkins. Complementing this, defensive units have also been vital in preventing the opponents from scoring, as Ohio State has allowed just 12.2 points per game.
These defensive strengths have factored into overall rankings and playoff prospects for teams, further illustrating the importance of a solid defense in achieving success in college football.
Caleb Downs
Even with fewer tackles than during his first year at Alabama, Downs is still a productive player. He totaled 35 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss, and he is shown to make impactful plays when it counts. His anticipation and vision help him get to the right place at the right time, where he can eliminate big plays without making statistics. In addition, Caleb’s impact on Ohio State’s top-ranked defense is absolutely tangible, as reflected in their national defense rankings.
As for sportsbook odds, his performances have probably played a part in influencing his team’s chances. With the Fanatics sportsbook promo, fans will get to follow these changes, potentially cashing in on his defensive impact on individual player props—a clear showcase of his value as an essential defensive contributor.
Abdul Carter
This vast, forgotten aspect of the defense versatility that Penn State Nittany Lions’ defensive end Abdul Carter has often been spearheading the defense efforts. His ability to spearhead and stop opponents’ offenses makes him an essential component in Penn State’s defense arsenal. The following are some of his notable stats:
- Total Tackles: 63
- TFLs: 21.5
- Sacks: 11.0
- Passes Broken Up: 3
- QB Hurries: 8
- Fumbles Forced: 2
There’s so much more to the number, though: Carter can let Penn State run a lot of different defensive schemes efficiently and ultimately maximize its defense. And that type of game gives him status as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jahdae Barron
Jahdae Barron led the SEC in interceptions with four and had 41 tackles to help Texas boast the top-ranked pass defense in the country. Barron is a position-versatile player for the Longhorns, who plays multiple positions in the backfield and shows a high football IQ and awareness. He has made a massive impact on games with interceptions and pass breakups and is the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner.
Barron’s presence helps Texas use multiple defenses, making him a massive piece in Texas’ defensive success. He leads and produces on the field to prevent big plays, cementing himself as the heart of a defense.
James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr. had led Tennessee Volunteers with 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 38 overall tackles en route to causing chaos in offenses. That athleticism, pure explosiveness, allowed him consistently to get pressure on quarterbacks and account for 52 PFF pressures this season, most in the SEC, and fifth at the edge rusher position throughout the Power 4 conferences.
Because of Pearce’s versatility, Tennessee could run multiple schemes effectively, maximizing its defense. Those displays earned him first-team All-SEC honors and a slew of semifinalist nods for several national awards. With his decision to enter the NFL Draft, he will leave a gaping hole in what has been a very stingy Tennessee defense, the clear-cut leader of the unit.
Harold Perkins Jr.
In just four games played, Harold Perkins Jr. compiled 17 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. With his speed, strength, and instincts, Perkins can also be a strong utility piece for any team, effectively playing linebacker and edge roles. He has shown the capability of disrupting offenses and pressuring them, too-a big reason he is thought of as an early-round pick in the NFL Draft.
This forces opponents to account for Perkins pre-snap, allowing LSU to do various things defensively. His career totals include 164 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks, proof that he’s been one of the most disruptive players in the country.
