NCAAF · 1 year ago

Ranking the Top 30 College Football Edge Rushers for 2024

Sammy Jacobs

Host · Writer

30. Stone Handy, Charlotte
Journeyman Stone Handy has found a home with the 49ers after stops with Auburn and Indiana. In 10 games at Charlotte in 2023, Handy had 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. If he can stay healthy, which he has not, Handy could have a breakout season.

Charlotte 2024 Season Win Total: 3.5
1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The First Team All-SEC defensive end will look to continue terrorizing quarterbacks. James Pearce Jr. had ten sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore playing the Volunteers’ LEO position. He is likely a first-round NFL draft pick after this season and could play his way into an early selection if he continues to put up big numbers.

Tennessee 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
2. Mykel Williams, Georgia
Georgia’s Mykel Williams is the next monster on defense for the Bulldogs. He followed up his freshman All-American season in 2022 with an All-SEC performance in 2023. He had 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2023 and can be either a standup linebacker or defensive end. His numbers should be better in 2024, as he can play multiple positions.

Georgia 2024 Season Win Total: 10.5
3. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
You have to be pretty good when you have already had games named after you on defense. Ohio State has a great one in JT Tuimoloau, and people have already seen what he can do to wreck a game. The 2022 win at Penn State is the JTT Game. He has 18 tackles for loss in his career and has two interceptions and fumble recoveries to his name.

Ohio State 2024 Season Win Total: 10.5
4. Abdul Carter, Penn State
Abdul Carter is making the move from linebacker to defensive end. His new coordinator, Tom Allen, should be able to put Carter in a position to make many plays. While his numbers dipped a bit from 2022 to 2023, Carter still has 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles to his name,

Penn State 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
5. Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Collin Oliver has the Oklahoma State career sack record in sight. He sits fifth on the list entering the season with 22.5 and needs 11.5 to tie Leslie O'Neal’s 34. Oliver doesn’t just get after quarterbacks. He has 38.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in his three seasons with the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State 2024 Season Win Total: 7.5
6. Princely Umanielen, Florida
As a second-team All-SEC selection in 2023, Princely Umanielen will try to lead a turnaround for the Gators. While the tackles total was low with 39, Umanielen made 11.5 tackles for loss and sacked the quarterback seven times. Will his efforts be enough to make the postseason and save Billy Napier’s job?

Florida 2024 Season Win Total: 4.5
7. Jacob Manu, Arizona
Jacob Manu was a significant reason Arizona had a 10-win season and capped the year off with an Alamo Bowl win. As a sophomore, he was named first-team All-Pac-12, and his talents should translate to the Big XII. In 2023, he made 116 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Arizona 2024 Season Win Total: 7.5
8. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton transfers in from Purdue where he put up monster numbers as a sophomore earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He made 50 total tackles, with 15 tackles for loss and ten sacks. Scourton also broke up three passes and forced a fumble. He was one of the Boilermakers' best defenders and is taking his game to the SEC.

Texas A&M 2024 Season Win Total: 8.5
9. Trey Moore, Texas
Another impact transfer heading to the SEC, Trey Moore, moves up to the Power Four after a record-setting career at UTSA. With the Roadrunners, Moore set single-season records for sacks (14) and tackles for loss (18). Moore may not put up the same numbers at Texas, but he can still help improve the havoc rate for the Longhorn defense.

Texas 2024 Season Win Total: 10.5
10. Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
Jason Henderson was tabbed a first-team All-American by many outlets after the 2023 season. He made 170 tackles, including 19.5 tackles for loss and four sacks for the Monarchs. He should have another big year at the Group of Five level and maybe play himself into some NFL Draft hype.

Old Dominion 2024 Season Win Total: 5
11. Ashton Gillote, Louisville
Ashton Gillote is an absolute game wrecker for the Cardinals. The Louisville edge rusher put up great numbers as he earned All-American and All-ACC honors. He made 45 tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss and an impressive 11 sacks. He also forced three fumbles in 2023. Gilote can help lead the Louisville defense to another ACC title game appearance.

Louisville 2024 Season Win Total: 8.5
12. Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Landon Jackson, a former LSU transfer, is one of the best defensive players in the SEC. The edge rusher made 44 tackles for the Razorbacks last season, with 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Arkansas may be looking for a new coach by season's end, but it will not be because of Jackson's performance.

Arkansas 2024 Season Win Total: 5.5
13. Patrick Payton, Florida State
Patrick Payton will hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. Where he goes will depend on how he performs this season. In 2023, Payton was a beast with 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He also broke up seven passes. He can do it all for the Florida State defense.

Florida State 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
14. Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
Another impact edge rusher out of the ACC, Jasheen Davis, had an All-ACC season as a junior and looks to be even better as a senior. Davis made 49 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, to go along with two fumble recoveries.

Wake Forest 2024 Season Win Total: 4.5
15. Reuben Bain, Miami
The Miami Hurricane defensive lineman won ACC Rookie of the Year in 2023. Reuben Bain now has a chance to burst onto the national stage with another big season. In 2023, he made 44 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles. This was all as a freshman.

Miami (FL) 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
16. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Dani Dennis-Sutton was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore. He is one of the top edge rushers in the Big Ten. He followed up his Freshman All-American season with 26 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He will be a weapon in Tom Allen’s defense.

Penn State 2024 Big Ten Title Odds:+550
17. R.J. Oben, Notre Dame
Notre Dame poached R.J. Oben from Duke after their coaching change. Oben had a big year for the Blue Devils with five sacks. He will look to set the edge of the Irish defense and build upon his All-ACC talent.

Notre Dame 2024 Season Win Total: 10.5
18. Ty French, West Virginia
Ty French was one of the best edge rushers at the FCS level with Gardner-Webb. He now gets a chance to showcase his skills at the P4 level with West Virginia. Last season, French had 22.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Will those numbers translate to the next level? We’ll see.

West Virginia 2024 Season Win Total: 6.5
19. David Bailey, Stanford
Stanford’s David Bailey has received Freshman All-American and All-Pac-12 accolades over his first two seasons. He brings his skills to the ACC (still weird). Bailey has started 14 games for the Cardinal, doubled his sack total from his freshman to sophomore year, and has 14.5 tackles for loss to his name. He is an underrated player hidden at Stanford.

Stanford 2024 Season Win Total: 3.5
20. Sai’vion Jones, LSU
The LSU Tigers have a history of great defensive linemen, and Sai’vion Jones could be the next one. Jones had a more prominent role in 2023 and put up career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Those numbers should only increase with a larger role in 2024.

LSU 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
21. Tyler Batty, BYU
The return of Tyler Batty to BYU in 2024 should help boost the Cougars' performance in the Big XII. The All-Big XII performer had seven tackles for loss in 2023 and has 19.5 for his career. The Cougars will hope his sack numbers go up, but Batty is a playmaker on defense.

BYU 2024 Season Win Total: 4.5
22. Brendan Mott, Kansas State
Brendan Mott looks to build on an All-Big XII honorable mention season with the Wildcats. Mott’s best season came in 2022, but last season was nothing to be ashamed of. He made 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 2023 but has 11.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in his career.

Kansas State 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
23. Johnny Walker, Missouri
Missouri’s Johnny Walker had a breakout 2023 season that was capped off with a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP in the win over Ohio State. Walker made 43 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. He will have a new defensive coordinator in 2024, but his success should continue.

Missouri 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5
24. Davin Vann, NC State
Davin Vann has had a great career at NC State, with 19.5 career tackles and 14 sacks. He had seven TFLs and 5.5 sacks last season. The coaching staff loves his motor, and he will lead the Wolfpack defense in another chase for an ACC title.

NC State 2024 Season Win Total: 8.5
25. Elijah Roberts, SMU
Elijah Roberts finished second in the AAC in sacks in 2023 with 10. SMU is moving up in competition to the ACC in 2024, but Roberts should still put up All-Conference numbers.

SMU 2024 Season Win Total: 7.5
26. Ethan Burke, Texas
Ethan Burke was an All-Big XII honorable mention as a sophomore in 2023 after playing in 13 games with nine starts. Burke broke out in 2023 with 41 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He is on several preseason All-SEC teams and should find his way into conversations for the NFL Draft.

Texas 2024 SEC Championship Odds: +300
27. Jordan Burch, Oregon
Oregon edge rusher Jordan Burch had an All-Pac-12 season in 2023 and is ready to take on the Big Ten in 2024. Last season, he had 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He started his career with South Carolina and should put up bigger numbers in the Big Ten.

Oregon 2024 Season Win Total: 10.5
28. Danny Striggow, Minnesota
Danny Striggow is a two-time All-Big Ten honorable-mention player for the Gophers. He has 12.5 career tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Striggow should continue to see his numbers go up and shore up the Gopher defense in 2024.

Minnesota 2024 Season Win Total: 4.5
29. Fadil Diggs, Syracuse
Fadil Diggs comes to Syracuse after being a two-time captain at Texas A&M. He has 18.5 career tackles for loss and eight sacks. The Orange need his playmaking, and his numbers could be astronomical in the ACC.

Syracuse 2024 Season Win Total: 7.5
30. Stone Handy, Charlotte
Journeyman Stone Handy has found a home with the 49ers after stops with Auburn and Indiana. In 10 games at Charlotte in 2023, Handy had 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. If he can stay healthy, which he has not, Handy could have a breakout season.

Charlotte 2024 Season Win Total: 3.5
1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The First Team All-SEC defensive end will look to continue terrorizing quarterbacks. James Pearce Jr. had ten sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore playing the Volunteers’ LEO position. He is likely a first-round NFL draft pick after this season and could play his way into an early selection if he continues to put up big numbers.

Tennessee 2024 Season Win Total: 9.5

Ranking the Top 30 College Football Edge Rushers for 2024

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