BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN RUN DEFENSE 2026 NFL Draft

2026 BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN RUN DEFENSE

Defensive linemen adept in run defense serve as pillars, often becoming unsung heroes by solidifying the front and stymying opposing rushing attacks. Players like Derrick Brown (Auburn) and Ed Oliver (Houston) have set benchmarks in recent years, exhibiting prowess in anchoring their lines and derailing run schemes with their stellar play against the rush.

Explore the data below to uncover current college defensive linemen standing tall against the rushing offense. Engage with a range of metrics, including tackles for loss, run stop percentage, and gap integrity, to comprehend the considerable influence these linemen exert in thwarting offensive ground assaults and constraining adversaries' run games.

2026 Defensive linemen ranked by RUN DEFENSE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING PASS RUSH RUN DEFENSE Rating
1

Joshua
Josephs

DE
/ED
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
72 94 100
85.9
2

Keldric
Faulk

DL
/ED
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
84 81 93
88.9
3

Tyreak
Sapp

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
72 84 91
78.8
4

Tim
Keenan III

DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
76 74 90
85.7
5

Rayshaun
Benny

DL
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
88 73 89
85.5
6

Christen
Miller

DL
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
77 76 88
86.4
7

Mikail
Kamara

DE
/ED
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
71 95 86
87.0
8

Peter
Woods

DL
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
60 76 86
88.2
9

LT
Overton

DE
/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
62 80 85
87.5
10

T.J.
Parker

DE
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
70 86 85
90.9
11

Domonique
Orange

DL
Iowa State   Mascot
Iowa State Mascot
64 78 82
84.7
12

Jalen
Thompson

DL
/ED
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
68 62 81
78.5
13

Rueben
Bain Jr.

DL
/ED
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
48 81 81
87.9
14

Lee
Hunter

DT
Texas Tech   Mascot
Texas Tech Mascot
64 74 80
82.7
15

Jehiem
Oatis

DL
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
80 80 80
75.0
16

Korey
Foreman

DL
/ED
Fresno State   Mascot
Fresno State Mascot
53 61 79
76.0
17

Tyler
Johnson

DL
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
79 72 79
74.4
18

Eric
O'Neill

DE
/ED
James Madison   Mascot
James Madison Mascot
41 80 79
83.0
19

Dylan
Brooks

DE
Kansas   Mascot
Kansas Mascot
78 78 78
75.0
20

Gracen
Halton

DL
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
76 83 78
84.6