B/R CFB 250: Top 16 Defensive Tackles
Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football, regardless of NFL potential. Through interviews with B/R Experts Matt Miller, Michael Felder, Barrett Sallee andAdam Kramer, authors Brian Leigh and Brian Pedersen have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country, narrowed that list to 250 and sorted by position. Today, we present the Top Defensive Tackles.
Other CFB 250 Positions
It's a transition year for college defensive tackles.
Or at least in four of the major conferences.
The ACC loses Eddie Goldman and Grady Jarrett. The Big 12 loses Malcom Brown, Chucky Hunter and Jordan Phillips. The Big Ten loses Michael Bennett and Carl Davis. And the Pac-12 loses Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton.
Fortunately, the SEC brings back everyone. And it keeps the defensive tackle position—which, despite all those losses, might be deeper than it was last season—from becoming too bottom-heavy. The top two players on this list hail from down south.
But there is no shortage of non-SEC players chasing them.
Before we dig into the list, though, a disclaimer: We graded the linemen who follow as college prospects, not as NFL prospects.
Targeted skills such as run defense are important at both levels, but there is a difference between a college run defense and a professional run defense. If a lineman can set the edge and make plays in the SEC or the Big 12, it doesn't matter if he can set the edge and make plays in the NFC North—at least not here.
This is all about college performance.
Note: If two players finished with the same grade, a subjective call was made based on whom we would rather have on our team right now. Also, all recruiting info refers to 247Sports' composite rankings. All advanced stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.
16-10. Pierson, Thompson, Jones, McKenzie, Adams, Maddy, Gostis
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16. Davion Pierson, TCU
Pass Rush: 31/40; Run Defense: 41/50; Motor: 8/10
Davion Pierson is a three-year starter who captained TCU's defense last season. He has adequate size (6'2", 305 lbs) for a defensive tackle, and his production (30 tackles, eight tackles for loss) was solid in 2014, but it remains to be seen if he can handle losing teammate Chucky Hunter. Pierson was the captain, but Hunter was the one commanding double-teams. Now Pierson has to be the alpha dog.
15. Trent Thompson, Georgia
Pass Rush: 33/40; Run Defense: 41/50; Motor: 8/10
Trent Thompson was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2015 class, and it's not hard to see why. He meets the size threshold for defensive tackles (6'4", 307 lbs) but explodes off the line with rare burst. This should help him adjust to the college game as both a pass-rusher and a run-stuffer. Georgia loses Ray Drew and Mike Thornton from last year's defensive line and will throw Thompson directly into the fire.
14. Chris Jones, Mississippi State
Pass Rush: 32/40; Run Defense: 43/50; Motor: 7/10
Chris Jones has the tools to be special. He is big for a 4-3 defensive tackle (6'6", 308 lbs) but athletic enough to play end. Sadly, that versatility has actually hurt him at Mississippi State; the Bulldogs play a 4-3 and have wanted to use him at tackle, but Jones seems like he prefers playing end. If new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz can figure out how to unlock him, Jones is an All-American candidate. But for now, he's an underachiever.
13. Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee
Pass Rush: 32/40; Run Defense: 43/50; Motor: 8/10
Kahlil McKenzie was the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2015 class. He ranked five spots behind Thompson but is readier than his classmate to contribute. At 6'3", 344 pounds, he's already one of the biggest 4-3 tackles in the country but is a terrific athlete who knows how to win with leverage. Bleacher Report's Michael Felder and SB Nation's Bud Elliott have both called McKenzie the best freshman prospect in the country. His performance on the first day of fall camp made them look like prophets.
12. Montravius Adams, Auburn
Pass Rush: 33/40; Run Defense: 42/50; Motor: 8/10
The sky is the limit for Montravius Adams, who has the size (6'4", 296 lbs), speed and power to make disruptive plays from multiple positions. He's shown flashes of brilliance as a freshman and sophomore but is still learning how to dominate consistently. The chance to play for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp should do wonders for his development.
11. Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech
Pass Rush: 31/40; Run Defense: 44/50; Motor: 8/10
Luther Maddy is a squat (6'2", 286 lbs) but intense defensive tackle and one of the best run-stuffers in the ACC. He tore his meniscus after four games last season but should be back to full health in 2015. Although he wins with power more than speed, he's quick enough to split the center and guard and make a play by himself in the backfield.
10. Adam Gotsis, Georgia Tech
Pass Rush: 33/40; Run Defense: 43/50; Motor: 8/10
Adam Gotsis is the most important player on a deep and balanced Georgia Tech defense. He is tall and a little skinny (6'5", 282 lbs) but energetic and quick through the line. A native of Australia who for eight years played Australian rules football, he's taken quickly to the American game and appears to have an NFL future.
9. Hassan Ridgeway, Texas
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Good length, good versatility, good quickness to disengage. There were games last year where he just popped off camera."
—Michael Felder
Pass Rush
Hassan Ridgeway posted six sacks and led Texas with 48 sack yards last season. He has good size (6'4", 307 lbs) and wins primarily with power, although he's also shown some burst off the line. If he improves his hand technique and learns how to shuck more consistently, there's no telling how good he can be. It's rare for a player this raw to enjoy so much success as an underclassman.
Run Defense
Ridgeway has the size and strength to plug multiple gaps. He also has the balance to make plays once he gets through the line. The only thing he needs to do is to maintain those things consistently. Too often his pads run high and he lets smaller, slower linemen contain him.
Motor
Here is where Ridgeway needs work. He doesn't play soft but needs to get angrier. "One of these days Hassan is actually going to get mad," said defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, via former Bleacher Report columnist Taylor Gaspar. "... My man could be a beast." With Malcom Brown departing, the Longhorns need that "could be" to become "is."
Overall
Ridgeway's nickname, The Green Mile, says a lot about him. He is big and strong but also calm and gentle. Those latter two qualities are great, and Ridgeway shouldn't abandon the things that make him likable. But he needs to flip a switch and find a balance once he steps on the field. Calm and gentle don't make for great defensive tackles; every other part of Ridgeway does. The physical tools are there for Bedford and head coach Charlie Strong.
8. Maliek Collins, Nebraska
3 of 10
B/R Expert Scouting
"Oh, this kid is going to be a monster. Remember what happened with Malcom Brown last year at Texas? How he flew under people's radars and then became a first-round pick? I think Maliek Collins can explode this year."
—Michael Felder
Pass Rush
Maliek Collins is a productive pass-rusher with the upside to be even better. He finished last season with 4.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries—great numbers for a defensive tackle—despite not logging his first sack until Nebraska's eighth game. He is a powerful interior rusher with size to collapse the pocket (6'2", 300) and quickness to shoot the gap.
Run Defense
As a run defender, Collins is raw. He's a playmaker who last year posted six non-sack tackles for loss but is sometimes overpowered in the hole. He relies on his quickness to get down the line and make plays, which is a rare skill for someone his size. If he learns what to do when he doesn't win with quickness, he can take the next step in this area.
Motor
Collins is a hard worker who just needs to find more consistency. There were games last year in which he severely outplayed Randy Gregory, but others in which announcers barely called his name. It's hard to blame that all on his motor—he was only a sophomore, and inconsistency is natural for young players—but it's hard to understand why a player this talented would ever be invisible.
Overall
Collins has the upside to finish as a top-three defensive tackle. He is that big, that fast and played that well in spots as a sophomore. There were ugly moments, such as Melvin Gordon's 408 rushing yards (in three quarters!) when Wisconsin drilled Nebraska, 59-24. But if Collins can eliminate the off weeks and play to his potential, he will rocket up NFL draft boards.
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7. Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"It's gonna be interesting to see how he looks without Michael Bennett, because I think Bennett drew some attention away from him. But he's quick, he's strong, he can move around the line—he just looks like an NFL player."
—Matt Miller
Pass Rush
Adolphus Washington arrived as a defensive end and is capable of playing multiple positions. This year, he will spend most of his time at 3-technique, where his quickness makes him a dangerous interior pass-rusher. He had 4.5 sacks last season and has 9.5 for his career. The threat he presents as an inside rusher makes it hard for opponents to double-team Joey Bosa.
Run Defense
Washington is a very good run defender. He lined up on the nose at times last season and held his own despite being slightly undersized (6'4", 290 lbs). He's strong enough to occupy space, but his best work comes when he sheds blocks and makes plays on his own. He had 48 total tackles in 2014, including six non-sack tackles for loss.
Motor
It takes a high motor to play nose tackle at 290 pounds. It takes an even higher motor to play nose tackle for the best team in the country at 290 pounds. But that's what Washington did last season, and for that he deserves a great deal of credit. He'll be moved back into space as a senior, and his stats should improve accordingly.
Overall
Washington has had an interesting career. He played well at end as a freshman alongside classmate Noah Spence but moved inside when Bosa arrived the next season. Bosa, Spence and Bennett overshadowed him in 2013, but then Spence was declared ineligible by the Big Ten and the team lost Bennett to the NFL. For the first time since he arrived in Columbus, Washington is being looked upon as a star. Frankly, that is long overdue.
6. Kenny Clark, UCLA
5 of 10
B/R Expert Scouting
"Apparently, he's a huge personality, and the coaches love him. And he really went off in the second half last season. I know that he's incredibly football-smart, and that's going to help him out a lot."
—Matt Miller
Pass Rush
Kenny Clark has appeared in 26 games, 17 of which he started, and only posted one sack and one QB hurry. He's better than those numbers indicate, because he occupies blockers and frees up rushing lanes for one of the most productive linebacker groups in America—but that is still a pretty passive performance. UCLA does not rely on him to do much on passing downs.
Run Defense
Because UCLA does not rely on him too much on passing downs, Clark can give his all on standard downs. He has good size for a nose tackle (6'3", 310 lbs) and produces despite facing constant double-teams. He had 57 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last season, both of which are great numbers for a tackle. Assign one man to block him at your own risk.
Motor
Clark plays with great power and maintains his intensity throughout the game. He is willing (if not eager) to do the dirty work in the trenches, where he throws his weight around like a wrecking ball. He's the type of nose tackle coordinators dream of coaching—a player who embraces his role up the middle and makes his teammates look better.
Overall
Clark forced his way into the starting lineup last season over junior defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy—a pretty solid player in his own right. He made himself invaluable for a defense with as much front-seven talent as any team in the country. With McCarthy out of the picture, Clark will be counted on to play even more snaps in 2015. But it seems like he's ready for the challenge.
5. Andrew Billings, Baylor
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Super-compact, high-energy player. I have him as an ideal nose tackle. He makes plays in the backfield and has surprising quickness for his size."
—Matt Miller
Pass Rush
Andrew Billings recorded just two sacks last season but added nine QB hurries. He's a thickly built tackle with a squat frame (6'2", 300 lbs) and the strength to collapse the pocket by winning with leverage. If he learns to use his hands to disengage rather than simply push guards and centers backward, he can turn more of those pressures into sacks.
Run Defense
Billings is one of the strongest players in college football—check out this 805-pound squat, which helped him set the Texas prep weightlifting record of 2,010 pounds—and it shows when he drives blockers off their marks. But he also boasts deceptive speed and quickness, which allows him to dart through the line and make plays in the backfield. He had 9.5 non-sack tackles for loss last season, including three for 10 yards against Oklahoma State.
Motor
Billings treats each rep as if he's going for the Texas state record. He pushes himself to the max but then comes back just as hard the next play. Without inside linebacker Bryce Hager, who graduated after four outstanding years, the Bears need a new emotional leader. Based on what he's shown the past two seasons, Billings is the perfect replacement.
Overall
Last year, Baylor finished No. 7 in the country with 3.15 yards allowed per rush. Despite its reputation as an offense-only juggernaut, it stymied opposing teams up the middle. Defensive end Shawn Oakman has the bigger name and upside, but Billings might be the better college player. If he's not, they are at least neck-and-neck.
4. Anthony Zettel, Penn State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Good interior quickness. He's a guy who really fires off the ball, plugs up the middle—and if you give him a chance to go make plays in the backfield, he's not just going to sit there and watch."
—Michael Felder
Pass Rush
Anthony Zettel led Penn State and finished tied for No. 3 in the Big Ten with eight sacks last season. All eight sacks came in separate games, including one apiece against Ohio State and Michigan State—the two best offensive lines he faced. He's a converted defensive end with a smaller frame (6'4", 284 lbs) but unfair quickness through the middle. He makes the quickest guards and centers look like they're cinder blocks.
Run Defense
Zettel holds his own for a skinny defensive tackle. He can't plug two gaps at once but does well to split defenders and force negative plays. He posted nine non-sack tackles for loss last season, including four in his final two games. Penn State finished No. 2 in the country in rushing yards allowed per attempt (2.95), which speaks well to Zettel's run defense.
Motor
Zettel sets the tone for Penn State's defense, which last year was the class of the Big Ten. He's a nasty, relentless player with a collar as blue as his home jersey. His energy makes his lack of size irrelevant, or at least not as important as it should be. And he finished the season strong to prove he's conditioned enough to last 13 games.
Overall
It was unclear before last season how Penn State was going to replace defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. Scholarship restrictions depleted the Nittany Lions depth chart and put the team in an uncomfortable spot. Sliding Zettel inside looked like a desperate move, but the switch went as well as it possibly could have. Now Zettel and Austin Johnson give Penn State the best defensive tackles in the conference.
3. Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
8 of 10
B/R Expert Scouting
"Day gives more effort than maybe anyone I've seen so far this year. He's not the most athletic guy, he's not the biggest guy, but he's just all-effort, all the time. I think he can be a heck of a nose tackle."
—Matt Miller
Pass Rush
Sheldon Day has recorded only 3.5 sacks in three seasons—two of which came in 2012. He has the quickness and burst to reach the quarterback, but his technique doesn't match his raw tools. If he learns a few pass-rush moves, there's no reason he can't improve this part of his game. There's no reason he can't be great at it. For now, though, he's a work in progress.
Run Defense
Day is the ideal run-stuffer for a 4-3 defense. He's small for a nose tackle (6'2", 285 lbs) but big enough to command two gaps. His NFL future might lie at defensive end, where his ability to get underneath a blocker and dominate an area makes him intriguing as a 5-technique. But Notre Dame is happy to leave him at tackle, where those same skills make him a force up the middle.
Motor
Day is a fighter who gives his all on every play and isn't afraid to sacrifice his body. He throws himself around in run support and won't stop thrashing until the whistle. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller named Day the best run-stopping tackle in the 2016 draft class, which is rare for a 285-pounder. His motor is the biggest reason why.
Overall
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made a splash in 2014 when he told Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated that he thought Day "can be the best lineman we've had here." On paper, Day did not meet those expectations, but a close look at the tape reveals why Kelly thinks so highly of his captain. Many of the best defensive tackles do their best work independent of the box score. Day is a perfect example of that.
2. A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
9 of 10
B/R Expert Scouting
"Talk about a dude who doesn't get credit. He takes up two-to-three blocks on the inside of that line all the time. Just one of those guys who does all the dirty work and makes life much easier for his teammates."
—Barrett Sallee
Pass Rush
Robinson led Alabama with 5.5 sacks as a freshman but didn't record a single sack last season. That decrease can be attributed to external factors—after a dominant freshman season, more teams double-blocked him—but Robinson also played too high and allowed guards and centers to win with leverage. He did record four QB hurries, and the work he does collapsing the pocket cannot be ignored. Still, Robinson needs to fix his pad level.
Run Defense
Robinson is a space-eater with NFL size (6'4", 312 lbs), strength and toughness. He can play all three positions on Alabama's defensive line but does his best work at nose guard, where he consistently moves linemen off their marks and clogs the A-gap. Alabama finished with the No. 1 run defense in the country last season, according to Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. Robinson was the biggest reason why.
Motor
At times, Robinson plays with a 10-out-of-10 motor. He was unblockable against Missouri in the SEC Championship Game, in which he posted nine tackles and three tackles for loss. The Tigers had a strong offensive line, but Robinson refused to be denied. If he refused as hard on a weekly basis, we'd rank him even higher, but at least he brings the energy when it matters.
Overall
Robinson is Alabama's best defender and likely its best player. Such titles usually lead to more name recognition, but thanks to his position, Robinson has flown under the national radar. Now that he's a junior and draft-eligible, it won't be long before the world catches on. The rest of the country is about to learn what SEC fans already know: Don't run up the middle on Alabama.
1. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
10 of 10
B/R Expert Scouting
"His stats do not indicate how good he is. I mean, he's facing triple-teams. It's unbelievable how much attention this dude draws."
—Barrett Sallee
Pass Rush
Don't look at the sack numbers; Robert Nkemdiche has posted just two in each of the past two seasons. Instead look at the game film; Nkemdiche has influenced a lot more than four pass attempts. He needs to work on countermoves, which would help him finish plays, but otherwise, Nkemdiche wreaks havoc. There's nothing a quarterback hates more than when a pocket collapses from the middle.
Run Defense
Again, the numbers fail to do Nkemdiche justice. He posted 35 tackles and two non-sack tackles for loss last season, but opponents double- and triple-teamed him on basically every running play. The attention he commands plays a big role in Ole Miss' run defense, which last year ranked No. 3 in the country, according to Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. He moves insanely well for a man his size (6'4", 296 lbs) and can win in a variety of ways.
Motor
Nkemdiche doesn't dominate as often as he should. He's been better than his numbers indicate, but those numbers should still be better than they are. He disappears too often when he could impose his will on lesser opponents. He's flashed a high motor against certain teams (Boise State comes to mind) but needs to find that gear more consistently.
Overall
The clip of Nkemdiche destroying Alabama guard Leon Brown is a microcosm of his time in Oxford. He didn't record a stat but was clearly the best player on the field. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2013 class, and while he hasn't posted No. 1-recruit-type numbers, he has been No. 1-recruit-type awesome. If you look past the box score, you'll see it.
Note: All slides written by B/R contributor Brian Leigh. You can contact the author on Twitter or find his email address on his profile page.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
