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

Keldric
Faulk

DL
/ED
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
77 79 91
89.5
2

Peter
Woods

DL
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
61 71 90
80.0
3

Jalen
Thompson

DL
/ED
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
73 68 83
84.9
4

Kelby
Collins

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
87 69 79
87.6
5

Da'Shawn
Womack

DE
/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
74 79 79
80.0
6

Matayo
Uiagalelei

DE
/ED
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
60 73 77
84.0
7

Solomon
Tuliaupupu

DE
/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
67 61 74
85.2
8

Rueben
Bain Jr.

DL
/ED
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
46 82 72
87.0
9

James
Smith

DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
58 65 72
86.4
10

Kamran
James

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
56 57 72
74.0
11

Boubacar
Traore

DL
/ED
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
57 72 71
86.5
12

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
49 73 70
65.2
13

Daevin
Hobbs

DL
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
79 59 68
83.7
14

Princewill
Umanmielen

LB
/ED
Nebraska   Mascot
Nebraska Mascot
41 75 67
81.6
15

Markis
Deal

DL
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
31 60 66
75.5
16

Stephiylan
Green

DT
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
65 52 66
45.6
17

Braylan
Shelby

DE
/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
62 66 66
86.7
18

Suntarine
Perkins

LB
/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
80 72 65
83.1
19

Adepoju
Adebawore

DL
/ED
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
75 67 65
86.4
20

Jordan
Hall

DL
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
77 54 62
65.0