College football’s 20 best defensive tackles of 2025
Arizona State defensive tackle C.J. Fite in pursuit of stopping a Kansas State running back in the first quarter Saturday November 16, 2024 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
What they do on the field doesn’t jump out on stat sheets.
However, defensive tackles and nose guards handle all of the blue-collar work from the interior. These space-eating, hole-clogging, brick walls terrorizes running backs, and quarterbacks in the trenches. The elite ones are often double-teamed, but still hold their own in the red zone, and at the goal line.
They’re the first line of contact, and the last to emerge from the pile up. These 20 individuals showed off their skills last season, and will wreak havoc on opposing offenses all season long this fall.
20. Damian Ilalio, Kansas State: The hometown kid is a load to deal with in the trenches, and often requires two blockers. Ilalio helped the Wildcats finish second in the Big 12, and 28th in the FBS in rushing defense last season. He tallied three tackles, and a sack in the victory at Tulane. Ilalio posted four stops against Oklahoma State. The former three-star prospect racked up a season-high, six tackles, including three solo in the win at West Virginia. Ilalio generated four stops, including three solo against rival Kansas. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder closed out the regular season strong with five tackles, including three solo at Iowa State. Now the senior will anchor the defensive line.
19. Yilanan Ouattara, Vanderbilt: The Germany native started 10 games last season, and recorded 31 tackles from the interior. Ouattara also took care of business in the classroom, and made the SEC Honor Roll three times. He generated four tackles in week two against Alcorn State. Ouattara posted three stops in the victory at Kentucky. The former three-star prospect had three solo stops against Texas. Ouattara made four tackles against South Carolina. The 6-foot-7, 311-pounder put the quarterback to turf, and tallied a season-high, five stops at LSU. Ouattara left a lasting impression, with three tackles, and made the quarterback eat grass in the bowl win over Georgia Tech.
18. Anthony Britton, Virginia: The former three-star prospect was very consistent for the Cavaliers last season, and finished ninth on the team with 39 tackles. Britton got off to a hot start with four stops in the opener against Richmond. He kept the momentum going in ACC play, and tallied four tackles in the victory over Boston College. Britton also recorded four stops apiece at Clemson and Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3, 317-pounder posted a season-high, 10 tackles against North Carolina. Britton generated three tackles, and put the quarterback to the turf in the win at Pittsburgh. The Virginia native had a solid outing on Senior Day against SMU, with four stops, including three solo.
17. Darnell Jackson, Florida State: The 22-year old finished second on the Seminoles in sacks last season. Jackson turned it up a notch in ACC play, and became a force along the interior. He recorded three tackles against Boston College. Jackson also generated three stop apiece at SMU and Duke. The former three-star prospect posted three solo tackles, and put Cam Ward to the turf twice at Miami. Jackson also made the quarterback eat grass, and had a season-high, five stops against North Carolina. Not to mention Jackson left a lasting impression with three tackles in the finale against Florida. The redshirt senior will anchor Florida State’s defensive line, and is poised for an All-ACC campaign.
16. Carlos Allen, Houston: The Atlanta native started all 12 games, and finished seventh on the Cougars in tackles last season. Allen was a big reason why Houston’s defense ranked sixth in the Big 12, and 44th in the FBS against the run. He started fast out of the gates, with five tackles in the opener against UNLV. The former three-star prospect made the quarterback eat grass in the win over Rice. Allen racked up a season-high, six tackles, including three solo in te victory over Utah. The 6-foot-1, 295-pounder generated three stops and a sack at Arizona. Allen also had three tackles at TCU. Not to mention he recorded four tackles apiece against Baylor and BYU. The senior is poised for a big season.
15. Maraad Watson, Texas: The former three-star prospect started 11 games as a true freshman at Syracuse last year. Watson showed tremendous potential, and made an immediate impact up front for the Orange. He tallied two solo tackles apiece against Ohio and Stanford. Watson put the quarterback to the turf against Holy Cross. The New Jersey native made five stops at Boston College. Watson also had five tackles, including tree solo in the bowl victory over Washington State. Not to mention his six tackles in the win over Miami were a season-high. Watson appears to be the Longhorns’ ideal replacement for Alfred Collins, who was selected in the second round of last month’s NFL Draft.
14. Ansel Din-Mbuh, TCU: The junior led Washington State in sacks, and tied for second on the team in tackles for loss in 2024. Din-Mbuh is a natural at mauling offensive linemen, and often requires two blockers. He got off to a fast start, with a season-high, five tackles, including three solo in the opener against Portland State. Din-Mbuh made four stops, and put the quarterback to the turf in the victory over Hawaii. His best performance of the season happened in the road win over San Diego State, where Din-Mbuh tallied four tackles, including three solo and a jaw-dropping, three sacks. The Texas native posted three solo stops at Oregon State. Din-Mbuh even had a sack against Wyoming.
13. Anthony Holmes, Texas Tech: The former three-star prospect started all 12 games at Houston last season, led the team in tackles for loss and finished eighth in stops. Holmes was very productive up front, and went on a tear in Big 12 play. He tallied four tackles at Cincinnati. Holmes posted a season-high, six tackles, including three solo, and a sack against Iowa State. The Houston native recorded four stops, and made the quarterback eat grass at Arizona. Holmes generated five tackles, including three solo against Baylor. Not to mention Holmes had four stops, including three solo at BYU. The junior brings valuable Big 12 experience and production to the Red Raiders’ defensive line.
12. Braxton Fely, Boise State: After flirting with the transfer portal this offseason, the junior is staying put with the Broncos. Fely made 12 starts in 2024, and helped Boise State’s defense finish 31st nationally against the run. He also capped off his junior campaign with second-team, All-Mountain West honors. Fely got off to a hot start, with two tackles and a sack in the opener at Georgia Southern. The following week he posted two solo tackles, and made Dillon Gabriel eat grass at Oregon. Fely tallied three stops, and put the quarterback to the turf against Washington State. The Utah native recorded three tackles, and a sack in the win at Hawaii. Fely even had a sack against Oregon State.
11. Jackie Marshall, Baylor: The Louisiana native has 64 career stops with the Bears. Marshall tied for second on Baylor in tackles for loss last season. He started out on fire with a season-high, seven tackles, including four solo in the opener against Tarleton State. Marshall posted four tackles, and put the quarterback to the turf at Utah. The former three-star prospect recorded five stops, including four solo against Air Force. Marshall tallied five tackles, including three solo and a sack in the victory at West Virginia. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder had five stops at Iowa State. Marshall generated three solo tackles apiece in wins over TCU and Kansas. The redshirt senior is due for an All-Big 12 campaign.
10. C.J. Fite, Arizona State: The Texas native is coming off a breakout season, in which he helped the Sun Devils finish first in the Big 12, and 21st in the FBS in rushing defense. Fite also has 45 tackles, including six for loss over the past two years, and earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors in 2024. He racked up a season-high, seven tackles, including five solo and made the quarterback eat grass at Texas Tech. Fite tallied three stops, and put the quarterback to the turf in the victory over UCF. The former three-star prospect also had three tackles apiece in wins over Kansas and Cincinnati. Now Fite is ready to be a monster again along the interior, and anchor Arizona State’s defensive line.
9. Jared Dawson, Notre Dame: The former three-star prospect has racked up 13 tackles for loss, and nine sacks over the past three seasons at Louisville. Dawson even tied for second on the Cardinals in sacks, and tied for third in tackles for loss last year. He even helped Louisville finish seventh in the ACC, and 40th in the FBS in rushing defense. Dawson got off to a hot start after he put the quarterback to the turf in the opener against Austin Peay. The Tennessee native tallied a season-high, seven tackles, including four solo and a sack in the victory over Jacksonville State. Dawson generated four stops at Notre Dame. Not to mention he made the quarterback eat grass in the win at Boston College.
8. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech: The Alabama native is extremely productive, and has a jaw-dropping, 114 tackles, including 21 for loss and four sacks over the past two seasons at UCF. Hunter tied for first on the Knights in tackles for loss in 2024, and helped them finish 29th nationally against the run. He even capped off the year with second-team, All-Big 12 honors. Hunter made three solo tackles in the victory over Sam Houston. Not to mention he tallied five tackles apiece against Colorado, West Virginia and Utah. His six tackles at Florida were a season-high. Hunter put Rocco Becht to the turf at Iowa State, and generated four tackles apiece against Arizona and Arizona State.
7. Gracen Halton, Oklahoma: The former four-star prospect has 51 career tackles with the Sooners, including 10.5 for loss. Halton helped Oklahoma finish fifth in the SEC, and 24th in the FBS in rushing defense in 2024. He ranked second on the team in sacks, and third in tackles for loss. Halton started fast out of the gates, with three tackles, and a sack in the opening win over Temple. Not to mention he made two solo stops, and put the quarterback to the turf in the win over Houston. The 6-foot-2, 284-pounder also had two solo tackles against Tulane. Halton even posted a sack against South Carolina and LSU. His seven tackles, including five solo against the Bayou Bengals were season-highs.
6. Cameron Ball, Arkansas: The redshirt senior has a jaw-dropping, 110 tackles, including nine for loss over the past three seasons with the Razorbacks. Ball proved he was a terror along the interior, and his 47 stops ranked ninth on the team in 2024. He tallied five solo tackles at Oklahoma State. Ball recorded four tackles, including three solo and put Nico Iamaleava to the turf in the victory over Tennessee. The 6-foot-5, 326-pounder also posted four tackles apiece against UAB, LSU and Texas. His seven stops, including four solo at Missouri were season-highs. Ball left a lasting impression with five tackles in the bowl win over Texas Tech. Now Ball is due for an All-SEC campaign this fall.
5. Aaron Graves, Iowa: The 21-year old has generated 85 tackles, including 18.5 for loss and 11.5 sacks over the past three seasons with the Hawkeyes. Graves is versatile, consistent and often requires two blockers. He ranked second on the team in sacks, and tied for second in tackles for loss in 2024. Graves helped the Hawkeyes finish 25th nationally in rushing defense. The Iowa native started out on fire, with four solo stops and a jaw-dropping, three sacks in the opener against Illinois State. Graves made four tackles at Ohio State. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder tallied five tackles, and two sacks in the win over Washington. Graves had a season-high, seven tackles and a sack in the victory over Nebraska.
4. David Blay, Miami: Although he had no stars behind his name as a high school prospect, the fifth-year senior has molded himself into an elite defensive lineman. Blay racked up 46 stops in 2024, and led Louisiana Tech in tackles for loss and sacks. He even capped off the year with first-team, All-CUSA honors. He made four tackles, and a sack at Florida International. Blay posted six stops, and a sack in the win over UTEP. The Pennsylvania native also recorded six tackles, and a sack in the victory over Kennesaw State. Blay even posted six stops apiece against Jacksonville State and Tulsa. Not to mention Blay put the quarterback to the turf against Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Sam Houston.
3. Tim Keenan, Alabama: The former four-star prospect has racked up a jaw-dropping, 78 tackles over the past two seasons at Alabama. Keenan finished second on the Crimson Tide in tackles for loss, and eighth in stops in 2024. He posted a season-high, nine tackles, including three solo and a sack in the victory over USF. Keenan made five stops at Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-2, 325-pounder tallied four tackles apiece against Mercer and Michigan. Kennan put together one of his best performances of the season against Auburn, when he generated three stops, and made the quarterback eat grass. With Tim Smith now in the NFL, the redshirt senior should be ready to anchor Alabama’s defensive line.
2. Zane Durant, Penn State: The 20-year old has made 59 tackles over the past two seasons with the Nittany Lions. Durant helped Penn State finish ninth nationally against the run in 2024, and he ranked third on the team in tackles for loss. He got off to a hot start with four tackles, and a sack in the opener at West Virginia. Durant recorded four solo stops, and put Luke Altmyer to the turf in the win over Illinois. The Florida native posed five tackles, including three solo against Ohio State. Durant also generated five stops, including three solo in the victory at Minnesota. His experience, and production is a big reason why the Nittany Lions will field one of the top defensive lines this fall.
1. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati: The hometown kid has been one of the nation’s best defensive tackles over the past three seasons with the Bearcats. It’s hard to argue against that when Corleone has racked up a jaw-dropping, 110 tackles, including 18 for loss and 9.5 sacks during that span. He even earned third-team, AP All-American honors in 2022, and is a two-time, All-Big 12 performer, including first-team last season. Corleone posted a season-high, six tackles, and a sack against Pittsburgh. The 22-year old made four stops apiece against Texas Tech and Arizona State. Corleone had four tackles, including three solo and two sacks in the victory at UCF. The redshirt senior is the real deal.
Honorable Mention
Aidan Keanaaina, California: The Colorado native generated 45 tackles from the interior last season. Keanaaina tallied six tackles apiece against San Diego State and Stanford. He had five tackles apiece at Florida State and SMU.
