• Michigan’s Mason Graham: The rising junior built off his strong freshman season by becoming a superstar as a sophomore.
• Kentucky’s Deone Walker: The junior is massive at 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds but is still one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the country at that size.
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With the 2023 college football season in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to 2024 by ranking the top returning players at every position.
Next up is interior defensive linemen. It’s one of the most loaded positions in college football heading into next season. According to PFF’s wins above average metric, 10 of the 19 most valuable Power Five defensive tackles from the 2023 season are returning to school.
Below is a list of PFF’s top-10 returning interior defensive linemen in college football in addition to an honorable mention nominee. Please note that NFL projection was not taken into account in these rankings.
Click below to view our other position rankings:
1. Mason Graham, Michigan Wolverines
Graham was excellent in his first year at Ann Arbor, leading all FBS true freshmen interior defensive linemen with an 80.3 PFF grade. He took his game to a whole new level as a sophomore. According to PFF's wins above average metric, he was the fourth-most valuable defensive tackle in the nation and was sixth in that same group with a 15.9% pass-rush win rate. Graham was one of only two interior defensive linemen in the country to finish with top-10 grades as both a pass rusher and run defender. The other was Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat.
The rising junior has a relentless motor to combine with ridiculous agility that makes him nearly unblockable. Even if an offensive lineman gets a clean shot on him, he has great power at 6-foot-3, 318 pounds to shed the block and find the ball carrier. Graham’s a nearly complete defensive tackle who’ll continue terrorizing Big Ten offenses on his way to likely becoming a high selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. If he was eligible for the 2024 draft, he’d likely be the first defensive tackle off the board.
Some of my favorite Mason Graham highlights from this past season.
DT1 in what’s a loaded position in CFB next year.
Nearly complete player: Size, agility, power, motor.
Has a chance to reach Carter/Quinnen levels as a prospect imo. @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/PRmsCHN4pe
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 8, 2024
2. Deone Walker, Kentucky Wildcats
Walker is the textbook definition of “first guy off the bus”. At 6-foot-6, 348 pounds, he dwarfs nearly every offensive lineman he lines up against. Most defensive tackles that size normally end up serving as run-stuffers who eat double teams while adding little to nothing as a pass-rusher. While Walker can certainly do the first part (81.7 PFF run-defense grade in 2023), the latter couldn’t be further from the truth.
The sophomore’s 51 pressures this past season led all interior defensive linemen in college football while his eight sacks were tied for the most among Power Five ones. Since 2022, he’s the second-most valuable returning Power Five defensive tackle according to PFF’s wins above-average metric (Graham is first). While Walker has the sheer strength to overpower offensive linemen, he often wins with his outstanding agility and finesse at that size. Like Graham, expect Walker to be a high pick in the 2025 draft for just how much of a unicorn he is.
Most 350 pound defensive tackles are limited to eating double teams and stuffing the run.
Not Deone Walker.
Led all FBS DI with 51 pressures this past season as a true sophomore.
Definition of first guy off the bus
(🎥: @clay_fink)pic.twitter.com/ILQhGVdF2O
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 9, 2024
3. Howard Cross III, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Neither Graham nor Walker are the highest-graded returning interior defensive lineman in college football. That title belongs to Cross, whose 90.1 grade in 2023 trailed only Sweat and Byron Murphy II among FBS defensive tackles. He, Sweat and Graham were the only interior defensive linemen with top-10 pass-rushing and run-defense grades in the Power Five.
The fifth-year senior’s 29 run-defense stops in 2023 were tied for the second-most among all defensive tackles in the country. He was also fifth among Power Five ones with 39 pressures. Cross is on the smaller side at 6-foot-1 and 284 pounds but makes up for it with his explosiveness and agility. He enters the sixth and final season of his career as one of the leaders of what should be an elite Notre Dame defense.
Howard Cross III is on the smaller side at 6-1, 284 pounds, but makes up for it with his movement ability.
Only T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II earned higher grades in 2023 than Cross (90.1)
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 9, 2024
4. Peter Woods, Clemson Tigers
Woods is the first rising true sophomore to crack the top 10 of these position rankings, let alone the top five. Even though the former five-star recruit had to compete for playing time with two interior defensive linemen who could end up being Day 2 picks in 2024, Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis, the freshman still shined.
Woods was third among FBS defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate (17.1%) and seventh in PFF run-defense grade (88.6). His 87.6 PFF grade was the third-best we’ve seen by a true freshman interior defensive lineman since we began charting college football in 2014. The only two above him were Dexter Lawrence and Ed Oliver in 2016, who each currently make over $15 million a year from their respective teams.
Expect Woods to become much more of a household name as a full-time starter in 2024.
Peter Woods (#11) was a true freshman doing this pic.twitter.com/eNtwoAMr1Z
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 23, 2024
5. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State Buckeyes
Williams flashed in a rotational role for Ohio State’s defensive line as a sophomore in 2022, earning an 82.4 PFF grade. He became a full-time starter this past season and tied for fourth among Power Five interior defensive linemen with 26 run-defense stops. Among returning Power Five defensive tackles since 2022, Williams is the fourth-most valuable according to our wins above average metric.
He’s a cerebral player who always knows where the running back is going. Despite playing at just 290 pounds in 2023, Williams was able to stack and shed offensive linemen at a high level. He’s now listed at 327 pounds, so that area of his game could improve by leaps and bounds. It remains to be seen how that’ll affect him as a pass-rusher though, as he earned just a 68.4 PFF grade in that respect last season.
#OSU DL Tyleik Williams was a one man wrecking crew against Notre Dame on Saturday. Credited with four tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU and 1 QB hit, Williams consistently pushed the pocket and collapsed running lanes.
Was the best defensive player for the Buckeyes and it wasn't close. pic.twitter.com/C1vc5IyqxD
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 26, 2023
6. Kenneth Grant, Michigan Wolverines
Between Grant and Graham, the defending national champions have easily the best defensive tackle duo in college football heading into 2024. That’s despite losing a projected second-round pick at that position in Kris Jenkins.
Among returning Power Five interior defensive linemen, Grant was the sixth-most valuable according to our wins above average metric. That’s despite playing in a rotational role on Michigan’s defensive line. The sophomore’s 78.4 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2023 was a top-15 mark among defensive tackles as well. With Jenkins gone, Grant should only shine more as a full-time starter next to Graham.
folks Kenneth Grant (6-3, 349) is a problem … fascinated to see the next step for the Michigan DT pic.twitter.com/jxUK6SwODH
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) March 8, 2024
7. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati Bearcats
“The Godfather” wasn’t quite as dominant this past season as he was in 2022. That year, his 93.8 grade was the highest among all FBS defensive players. The redshirt freshman particularly excelled as a run-defender, where his 94.7 PFF grade was the best mark since Micah Parsons in 2019. Despite ranking just 256th among interior defensive linemen in run-defense snaps (172), Corleone registered the sixth-most run-stops (27).
As Cincinnati moved to the Power Five level in the Big 12, Corleone posted an 83.6 PFF grade that was 11th among all defensive tackles in the country. His 10 tackles for loss/no gain were tied for eighth among Power Five interior defensive linemen that year. While he wasn’t quite the game-wrecker that he was in the American Athletic Conference, Corleone is still easily one of the 10 best returning defensive tackles in college football.
8. Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina Gamecocks
As a junior in 2022, Hemingway posted an 82.1 PFF pass-rushing grade that season, which ranked eighth among Power Five interior defensive linemen.
The senior remained a very good pass-rusher this past season and held up much better in the run game. Hemingway was one of 10 Power Five defensive tackles in 2023 who earned 75-plus grades both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. What he lacks in size (295 pounds), he makes up for it with great quickness and flexibility.
#SouthCarolina DL Tonka Hemingway kept flashing while watching their DB’s, w/quick wins at the LOS utilizing swim moves, hand swipes, chasing after QB’s as well.
Listed at 6-3, 295, knifing through o-lines, showing awareness to diagnose RB screens. Not in draft, but good player. pic.twitter.com/DtLvv6gCRd
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) February 6, 2023
9. Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech Hokies
Peebles is the only player in the top-10 who’ll be playing for a new school in 2024, transferring from Duke to Virginia Tech in December. He was one of the nation’s best defensive tackles in getting after the quarterback in 2023. In fact, his 90.1 pass-rushing grade was second among all FBS interior defensive linemen this past season. The only player who earned a higher mark, Texas’ Byron Murphy II, is a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Peebles was fifth among all defensive tackles in the nation as well with a 16.2% pass-rush win rate. Among returning Power Five interior defensive linemen, the senior was the fourth-most valuable according to PFF’s wins above-average metric.
Transfer portal addition Aeneas Peebles with a massive bull rush to close the game pic.twitter.com/E0XlCHQPyL
— Treadmill Horse (@treadmillhorse) December 23, 2023
10. Rylie Mills, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Michigan may have the best defensive tackle duo entering 2024, but Notre Dame isn’t too far behind with Cross and Mills. The latter was tied for fourth among FBS interior defensive linemen this past season with a 13.5% pressure rate. The senior was also seventh among Power Five ones with a 15.5% pass-rush win rate and tied for 10th with 23 run-defense stops.
While on the lighter side at 295 pounds, Mills displaces offensive linemen with his size (6-foot-5) and excellent upper-body strength.
When Notre Dame versus Navy kicks off this afternoon. Keep your eyes out for DL #99 Rylie Mills for the Fighting Irish.
He can play both reduced inside & as a traditional defensive end. Navy will test this DL's ability to hold up at the POA versus their Triple Option.… pic.twitter.com/fNIQ5vldYr
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) August 26, 2023
Honorable Mention: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss Rebels
The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 high school class, Nolen began to live up to that hype in his sophomore season for Texas A&M. His seven sacks this year were tied for third among SEC interior defensive linemen as were his eight tackles for loss/no-gain. He was also fourth among SEC defensive tackles with a 9.9% pass-rush win rate.
Nolen stays within the conference and will play for Ole Miss in 2024, where he’ll look to fully reach his high ceiling.
Good grief, Walter Nolen. Special talent. pic.twitter.com/qkEJYbahEd
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) September 15, 2023
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