2025 PRE-SEASON DEFENSIVE TACKLE RANKINGS

1. MASON GRAHAM (MICHIGAN) 6’3” 318 LBS. 

Graham made an immediate impact as a true freshman as a freshman all-American in 2022. As a true sophomore, he earned 2nd-team all-American. He can win in a variety of ways whether it's quickness or strength. He was equally effective as both a run defender and a pass rusher with the 2nd best win rate in the country. 

2023 STATS: 36 TACKLES – 3 SACKS – 7.5 TFL

2. DEONE WALKER (KENTUCKY) 6’6” 348 LBS. 

Walker became a starter as a true freshman and earned freshman all-American in 2022. Walker has rare size and it is hard to find a comparison to him. Along with that size, he has rare production as a pass rusher leading all defensive tackles in pressures last season with 51. Shows good movement skills and did a nice job using his hands and getting quick penetration. Walker is still raw and would like to see him play with better pad level. 

2023 STATS: 55 TACKLES – 7.5 SACKS – 12.5 TFL

3. KENNETH GRANT (MICHIGAN) 6’3” 338 LBS. 

Grant came in the same 2022 class as Mason Graham and looks like your prototypical nose tackle. He played in all 14 games but made a much bigger impact a season ago earning all-Big 10 honors despite only five starts. He has rare movement skills for a player his size. You can watch him chase down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen. During that Penn State game, he showed off his quickness hitting Allar and forcing an errant throw that should have been an interception. Also does a good job batting balls down he had 6 PBU and an interception. 

2023: 29 TACKLES – 3.5 SACKS – 5 TFL

4. TYLEIK WILLIAMS (OHIO STATE) 6’3” 327 LBS.

Williams was part of the 2021 recruiting class and contributed right away with five sacks earning freshman all-American in 2021 and honorable mention. A big defensive tackle that has very good power and does very well vs the run. He doesn’t have great quickness but has strong hands and does a good job shedding blockers and making plays in the backfield. 

2023 STATS: 54 TACKLES – 3 SACKS – 10 TFL

5. BEAR ALEXANDER (USC) 6’3” 313 LBS.

A four-star recruit in 2022 who saw action in 12 games as a true freshman for Georgias National Championship team. Georgia could have used him a season ago, but he transferred to USC and did well earning all PAC-12 his first year. Bear led all Pac-12 defensive linemen in snaps and was third in pressures. You see the 1st step quickness and power with Bear, and he wins a lot of reps that way. To take his game to the next level I would like to see him have a pass rush plan and do a better job using his hands and shedding defenders. 

2023 STATS: 47 TACKLES – 1.5 SACKS – 7 TFL 

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6. HOWARD CROSS III (NOTRE DAME) 6’1” 277 LBS. 

Cross is the son of former NFL tight end Howard Cross Jr. He was a four-star defensive end recruit in 2019. He was a rotation player, playing in 23 games and 9 starts in 2021-2022. Last year he had 13 starts and earned 1st team all-American. Cross was Notre Dame's 2nd leading tackler; he brings consistent effort and makes a lot of plays in pursuit. Cross used his quickness to become one of the more disruptive players a season ago with 38 pressures. 

2023 STATS:  66 TACKLES - 2 SACKS - 7 TFL

7. DONTAY CORLEONE (CINCINNATI) 6’2” 320 LBS.

Corleone was a force as a red-shirt freshman earning freshman all-American and all-American honors. He earned PFF’s highest grade that season as well 93.8 and 94.7 run defense. A strong and stout nose tackle that can take up double teams. Able to push the pocket and disrupt as a pass rusher. Has good eyes and flows to the football and clogging up running lanes. 

2023 STATS: 39 TACKLES – 3 SACKS – 6.5 TFL

8. DAVIN VANN (NC STATE) 6’2” 280 LBS. 

Vann has been at NC State since 2020 was part of the rotation and started a couple of games in 2021. Became the starter in 2022 winning the team's most valuable defensive lineman as well as most improved player. He is coming off his best year and has 14 sacks in the past three seasons. He plays defensive end in a three-man front and on third downs you will see him get kicked inside to nose tackle. His quickness and athleticism jump off the tape. Despite his lack of size, he has been a stout run defender throughout his career. 

9. WALTER NOLAN (OLE MISS) 6’3” 290 LBS. 

Nolan was the number two player in the 2022 class just behind Travis Hunter. He has not lived up to that hype yet but is still considered the top defensive tackle transfer this off-season. Nolen shows flashes of being quick off the snap but did not see consistency in that area. He does appear to have long arms and heavy hands. Overall was disappointed in his motor and would like to see more consistency.

2023 STATS: 37 TACKLES – 4 SACKS – 8.5 TFL

10. NAZIR STACKHOUSE (GEORGIA) 6’3” 320 LBS. 

Stackhouse was a four-star recruit who has been at Georgia since 2020. Saw action as a reserve in 16 games from 2020-2021. Became a starter in 2022 and earned all-SEC honors.  He is hard to move and does a good job occupying blockers. Stackhouse doesn’t provide much in the pass rush area but is a stout run defender. 

2023 STATS: 24 TACKLES – 2 SACKS – 3 TFL

SLEEPERS: 

ALFRED COLLINS (TEXAS)

Collins has made my pre-season ranking before showing flashes at different times of his career. A former five-star defensive end in the 2020 recruiting class. He finally put together a nice year earning honorable mention Big-12. He had an invitation to the Senior Bowl but decided to return for his fifth year. Texas lost the two best defensive tackles in college football to the NFL draft; Collins will have a better opportunity to see his draft stock rise. 

DEMONTE CAPEHART (CLEMSON)

Capehart played 260 snaps in the past two seasons. 174 of those snaps were last season and he had 5 TFL. He flashed good power and quickness. At the end of the season, he had a three-game stretch where he had 7 pressures on 44 snaps. With a bigger role, Capehart could have a breakout season.

SENIORS

WARREN BRINSON (GEORGIA)

TIM SMITH (ALABAMA)

JJ PEGUES (OLE MISS)

KRISTIN WILLIAMS (MISSOURI)

OMARI THOMAS & OMARR THOMAS LOTT (TENNESSEE)

CAM JACKSON & JOEY SLACKMAN (FLORIDA)

ALEX HUNTLEY & TOMKA HEMINGWAY (SOUTH CAROLINA) 

DERRICK HARMON & JAMAREE CALDWELL (OREGON) 

DVON ELLIES (PENN STATE) 

YAHA BLACK (IOWA) 

NASH HUTMACHER (NEBRASKA)

SIMEON BARROW & AKHEEM MESSIDOR (MIAMI) ‘

AENEAS PEEBLES (VIRGINIA TECH) 

THOR GRIFFITH (LOUISVILLE) 

TYLER ONYEDIM (IOWA STATE)

RICKY BARBER (UCF) 

SEAN MARTIN (WEST VIRGINIA) 

JOSEPH EVANS (UTSA) 

PATRICK JENKINS (TULANE) 

RYLIE MILLS (NOTRE DAME) 

UNDERCLASSMAN 

LEE HUNTER (UCF) 

DAMONIC WILLIAMS (OKLAHOMA)

TJ SANDERS (SOUTH CAROLINA)