Edge rusher
Laiato Lato, UCLA (6-5, 265)*
Lato began his career in Washington, but suffered a neck injury that sidelined him in 2020 and 2021. He’s been a force since UCLA’s team doctors cleared him to play, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors the past two years. Seasons and rankings in the top 10 nationally in sacks both years (tied for eighth with 10.5 in 2022, tied for third with 13 after the 2023 regular season). The 2023 first-team AP All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year leads the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss as well, using his combination of power and speed on offense and quick passes at the edge.
Jared Fiers, Florida State (6-4, 260)
Florida State’s defense did its best to get the team into the College Football Playoff after offensive leader/quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury. Verse has turned up the volume the past two games, collecting 4.5 of his nine sacks this season (the same total he had in 2022) while providing strong, relentless pressure. Even though Verse’s tackles for loss dropped from 17 in ’22 to 12.5 this season, the ACC coaches still voted him first-team conference best and Most Valuable Player honors. News agency He was named a second team All-American because of his all-around impact. Verse’s heavy, quick hands and ability to beat tackles inside or outside should make him a Day 1 starter in the NFL.
Defensive tackle
Jerzan Newton, Illinois (6-2, 295)
Newton’s value to Illinois’ defense was proven during the team’s loss to Wisconsin, as the Badgers came back to win in the fourth quarter after the senior defender was ejected for scoring. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and AP First Team All-American finished among the nation’s top DTs with 7.5 sacks and 22.5 accumulated tackles for loss over the past two seasons, overcoming hurdles with a quick first step and hustle. Although he’s not a huge interior defender, Newton’s quickness off the snap and low center of gravity allow him to play aggressively at the line of scrimmage. He even blocked an FBS-best four kicks (two field goals and two extra points).
Founder Sweet, Texas (6-4, 362)*
The massive Race (42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks in 2023) leads a talented group of Longhorn defensive tackles responsible for the third-best rushing defense in the country (80.8 yards per game). He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches because of the way he bullies offensive linemen and strikes fear into ball carriers while chasing that huge frame. If Sweat’s athletic testing is as exceptional as the performances of fellow bigs Derrick Brown and Jordan Davis at the recent NFL Scouting Combines, he will be selected earlier than most expected.
The linebacker
Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M (6-3, 230)
The Aggies’ season didn’t go according to plan, but Cooper emerged as one of the best defenders in the country. He led A&M with 83 tackles, 17 tackles for loss (which tied for ninth-most in the FBS) and eight sacks in the regular season, and showed the ability to rush the passer, cover receivers in the slot, as well as attack quick screens and runs. He returns to the sideline. The national awards did not include Cooper on their final lists, but the SEC coaches voted him first team all-conference and the AP voted him first team All-American.
Payton Wilson, NC State (6-4, 238)*
Wilson has been plagued by knee and shoulder injuries since his high school days, but he led the Wolfpack in tackles during three different seasons (2019, 2020, 2023). the Bednarik Award WinnerThe AP first-team All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year ranks in the top five nationally with 11.5 tackles per game and sixth in the FBS with 17.5 tackles for loss, and consistently puts himself in position to draw down ball carriers in Backfield. And the open field. Wilson is the type of athletic, triple-cover player that NFL teams covet on Day 2, but he also has the toughness to work against offensive linemen on defense.
Cedric Gray, North Carolina (6-2 1/2, 235)*
Teams looking for a physical presence in the middle of the defense should go for Gray on Day 2. The two-time first-team All-ACC selection averaged 10.1 tackles per game this season, second only to Payton Wilson in the conference. He’s a downhill player who attacks gaps and can get to the outside quickly. Gray isn’t shy about taking on linemen and routinely drops down to find ballcarriers, but he also handles zone coverage responsibilities in the middle of the field. In today’s NFL, the Tar Heel is generally considered a “hitter,” but he is more of a defender inside the box.
Back corner
Chris Abrams-Drain, Missouri (5-11, 178)*
Instead of going to the NFL last season, Abrams-Drain returned to Columbia to work on his craft and help the Tigers compete for an SEC title. The AP second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC four interceptions and 12 pass breakups helped the Tigers finish second in the SEC East (behind only Georgia) and achieve a top-10 rankings. The former receiver’s ball skills (seven career interceptions, 33 pass breakups) are impressive. Furthermore, his willingness to battle receivers and offensive ball handlers in the open field at 5-11, 178 pounds portends a bright future in the NFL.
Quinnyon Mitchell, Toledo (6-0, 196)*
Mitchell has the size/speed combination that all NFL defensive coordinators look for at outside cornerback. The 6-1, 196-pounder is expected to do very well at the combine. The two-time first-team All-MAC selection and 2023 AP second-team All-American led the FBS with 25 passes defended in 2022 and finished second with 19 this season. He would often trick quarterbacks into throwing the ball to receivers who appeared to find open spots in zone coverage, then kick the ball away when it arrived. Mitchell also defends down throws with physicality and can find and attack jump balls into the end zone.
safety
Tyler Nobin, Minnesota (6-2, 210)
An excellent quarterback for the Golden Gophers over the past four years, Nubin reads quarterbacks’ eyes and attacks the ball in the air, whether he’s tracking down a route, knocking down a deep throw or approaching the sideline. The AP second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection tied for fifth nationally with five interceptions this season, giving him 13 career TDs. The 6-2, 210-pounder isn’t afraid of contact, hitting receivers up the middle or on the sideline to dislodge throws or limit explosive plays. Nubin is also a downhill player against the run and finds holes and exploits them before the running back can rush through them.
Ketan Oladapo, Oregon State (6-1, 217)*
Oladapo was named team captain this season, returning to the Beavers for a sixth season rather than turning pro. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 notice by being a physical presence in the box for Oregon State, fighting through blocks and showing speed to track down ball carriers all over the field. In 2023, he compiled 63 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups, numbers similar to those he posted in his first two years as a starter. Oladapo’s thick frame should fit many NFL teams’ prototypes for a starting strong safety.
College football is one of the most thrilling and competitive sports in the world, with numerous top teams vying for the coveted title of national champion each year. From powerhouse programs with rich histories to up-and-coming underdogs, the landscape of college football is filled with talented and dedicated teams. In this discussion, we will explore some of the top teams in college football, their impressive records, and the impact they have had on the sport. Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual observer, the stories of these teams and their successes are sure to captivate and inspire. So, let’s dive into the exciting world of college football and celebrate the incredible teams that make the game so special.