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
84 81 93
89.5
2

Tyreak
Sapp

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
73 85 91
80.2
3

Mikail
Kamara

DE
/ED
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
70 94 86
85.2
4

T.J.
Parker

DE
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
70 86 85
90.4
5

LT
Overton

DE
/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
62 79 85
86.0
6

Peter
Woods

DL
/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
59 75 84
83.5
7

Jalen
Thompson

DL
/ED
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
70 64 84
84.9
8

Keaten
Wade

DE
/ED
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
74 66 81
72.5
9

Rueben
Bain Jr.

DL
/ED
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
48 81 81
88.5
10

Kelby
Collins

DE
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
87 72 80
87.6
11

DeMonte
Capehart

DT
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
76 69 77
82.9
12

Gabriel
Rubio

DL
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
68 58 77
72.6
13

Da'Shawn
Womack

DE
/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
72 79 76
80.0
14

Dani
Dennis-Sutto...

DE
/ED
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
58 80 76
83.0
15

James
Smith

DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
48 63 75
86.4
16

Zane
Durant

DT
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
40 71 75
82.5
17

Kamran
James

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
65 56 75
74.0
18

Markis
Deal

DL
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
55 59 75
75.5
19

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
56 75 74
65.2
20

Jamari
Lyons

DL
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
86 62 74
79.0