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
82 80 93
89.5
2

Mikail
Kamara

DE
/ED
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
75 93 91
85.2
3

Jalen
Thompson

DL
/ED
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
70 64 84
84.9
4

Keaten
Wade

DE
/ED
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
74 66 81
72.5
5

Peter
Woods

DL
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
49 76 81
80.0
6

Kelby
Collins

DE
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
87 69 79
87.6
7

Da'Shawn
Womack

DE
/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
74 79 79
80.0
8

Gabriel
Rubio

DL
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
68 63 78
72.6
9

Dontay
Corleone

DT
Cincinnati   Mascot
Cincinnati Mascot
64 71 77
83.5
10

Lee
Hunter

DT
UCF   Mascot
UCF Mascot
58 67 74
74.1
11

Kamran
James

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
61 58 74
74.0
12

Rueben
Bain Jr.

DL
/ED
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
43 77 74
87.0
13

Darrell
Jackson Jr.

DT
Florida State   Mascot
Florida State Mascot
53 76 73
84.6
14

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
54 73 73
65.2
15

Solomon
Tuliaupupu

DE
/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
70 59 72
85.2
16

Cashius
Howell

DL
/ED
Texas A&M   Mascot
Texas A&M Mascot
65 88 72
81.5
17

Markis
Deal

DL
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
48 59 72
75.5
18

Boubacar
Traore

DL
/ED
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
57 71 71
86.5
19

Tyler
Johnson

DL
Arizona State   Mascot
Arizona State Mascot
70 64 71
69.0
20

Daevin
Hobbs

DL
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
77 60 70
83.7