Projecting Top D-Lines for the 2025 CFB Season
Creating defensive havoc is a critical part of successful teams.
Look around the college football landscape, and the most prominent programs tend to also boast a strong defensive line.
That's certainly the expectation in 2025, a season set to feature star-studded pass-rushing groups at Clemson, Penn State and several other big-brand schools that are chasing a trip to the College Football Playoff.
While the choices are subjective, they're a reflection of returning production, incoming transfers and perceived depth.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
1 of 7
No, this is not a misprint. Texas Tech, which is typically known for a high-scoring offense, may have a terrific defensive line in 2025.
And the Red Raiders can thank the transfer portal for that.
Along with edge-rusher Romello Height (Georgia Tech), they signed star defensive end David Bailey (Stanford), second-team All-Big 12 tackle Lee Hunter (UCF) and third-team All-MAC tackle Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois).
Houston transfer A.J. Holmes Jr. adds valuable depth at tackle next to Jayden Cofield, who tallied 4.5 TFLs as a freshman.
Throw in veterans Charles Esters III, Terrell Tilmon and E'Maurion Banks to form the rotation, and Texas Tech has a sturdy front.
LSU Tigers
2 of 7
In a championship-or-bust season for LSU, the defensive line is poised to showcase a talented group of newcomers.
The projected starters at D-end, Patrick Payton II and Jack Pyburn, arrived from Florida State and Florida, respectively. LSU also picked up Nebraska end Jimari Butler, South Florida defensive tackle Bernard Gooden and Texas tackle Sydir Mitchell to bolster the trenches.
And it's not like LSU doesn't have returning talent.
Veteran tackle Jacobian Guillory is back after missing 2024 with an Achilles injury, and both Ahmad Breaux and Dominick McKinley worked into the rotation as freshmen. Gabriel Reliford is a likely riser at end, as well.
Whether you trust the Tigers to reach their upside is fair to argue, but the ingredients are there for LSU to contend nationally.
Alabama Crimson Tide
3 of 7
Similarly, we can debate the upside of Alabama's retooled offense. On the other side, however, the Crimson Tide should be excellent.
Tim Keenan III is a standout D-tackle who's entering his third year as a starter, and edge LT Overton's disruptiveness far exceeded his counting stats. Sacks are glamorous and matter, but he still wreaked havoc on blockers.
James Smith, who posted 20 tackles (3.5 for loss) as a rotational piece in 2024, rounds out the expected first-string group.
Plus, the Crimson Tide have experience with Jordan Renaud and Florida transfer Kelby Collins. Bama's newest wave of contributors is set to include recent top recruit Keon Keeley with Edric Hill and Jeremiah Beaman, too.
This defensive front should be a collective menace.
.jpg?w=256 "Big 12 Spring Wrap Football")
Penn State Nittany Lions
4 of 7
While replacing the All-American impact of Abdul Carter will be a major challenge, Penn State already knows its marquee contributors.
Edge-rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton collected 13 stops for loss (8.5 sacks) last season, and defensive tackle Zane Durant registered 11 TFLs. They're the foundation of an unfinished but hugely promising unit.
Defensive end Zuriah Fisher is back after an undisclosed injury sidelined him in 2024, and Alonzo Ford Jr. should also start. Offseason praise has raised 2025 expectations for redshirt freshmen end Max Granville and tackle Xavier Gilliam, too.
Penn State's in-house development, save for Texas A&M transfer Enai White, will be on full display this fall.
Michigan Wolverines
5 of 7
Ordinarily, losing a pair of first-round NFL draft selections at defensive tackle would be a happy-yet-concerning reality.
Michigan, though, remains in a good place.
Edge-rusher Derrick Moore will enter the season as a prospect high on NFL radars, and defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny is close behind. They are back alongside TJ Guy, an edge-rusher with seven TFLs last year.
Two transfers, Damon Payne Jr. (Alabama) and Tre Williams (Clemson), are slated to play significant snaps alongside Benny in the middle. Returning backups Ike Iwunnah and Trey Pierce add further depth to the interior.
As long as a young player like Dominic Nichols or Lugard Edokpayi ascends with returning backup edge Cameron Brandt, the Wolverines will be loaded.
Texas Longhorns
6 of 7
The middle of the Longhorns' front line is a work in progress, and we'll highlight that transfer-heavy unit shortly.
But, y'all, these edge-rushers—whew.
Colin Simmons shined as a true freshman, posting 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Trey Moore and Ethan Burke each tallied at least nine TFLs, and Colton Vasek even chipped in 2.5 as a deep reserve. On paper, there isn't a more impressive group of pass-rushers in the country.
Texas jumped into the portal for Cole Brevard (Purdue), Travis Shaw (North Carolina) and Hero Kanu (Ohio State), building the rotation with Alex January.
Expectations are, and should be, extremely high for this D-line.
Clemson Tigers
7 of 7
During the program's championship-worthy peak in the last decade, a trademark of Clemson's success was a powerful defensive line.
This current group figures to match that standard.
Defensive end T.J. Parker has amassed 32 tackles for loss (16.5 sacks) in two college campaigns. Peter Woods, who played out of position last year, still had 8.5 TFLs and is shifting back inside this season.
Woods is partially able to move because the Tigers—gasp!—used the portal to land Purdue transfer Will Heldt. The rising junior end gathered 56 tackles with 10 for loss (5.0 sacks) on the Boilermakers in 2024.
Veteran tackle DeMonte Capehart completes the starting unit, and there's no shortage of depth. Last season, tackle Stephiylan Green and ends Jahiem Lawson and Cade Denhoff all played key roles. Armon Mason and Vic Burley are poised to factor into this stacked rotation this year, as well.
.jpg?w=480 "Big 12 Spring Wrap Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Rodgers Gets 'Rare' Tender")
.jpg?w=600 "Downs: I Was Bored in CFB")