USA TODAY International Edition
Oliver stands as FBS’ top defensive lineman
College football is almost here. USA TODAY is getting you ready by breaking down the best players at each position in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Next up: the defensive line. If last season was the year of the quarterback, 2018 promises to be the year of the dominant defensive lineman. No team illustrates this fact better than Clemson, which touts four starting linemen destined for the upper rounds of next spring’s NFL draft. But the nation’s top lineman plays elsewhere.
With a heavy dose of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten, here are the best defensive linemen in college football for 2018.
1. Ed Oliver, Houston: The best pound-for-pound player in college football? Yeah, I’d say so. Oliver has proved to be unstoppable since his first day on campus; during practices when he was a true freshman, then-Houston coach Tom Herman had to ask his assistants to remove Oliver from some drills just so the offense could gain some confidence. Oliver is even better than advertised.
2. Christian Wilkins, Clemson: Any number of linemen could slot in behind Oliver, including at least three members of Clemson’s outstanding front. Wilkins gets the nod due to his experience, production and versatility. The multipleyear starter is one of the most accomplished defenders in the country and the leader of what should again be one of the best teams in the FBS.
3. Rashan Gary, Michigan: If you’re a rival in the Big Ten, the scary thing about Gary is that he’s just beginning to crack into his potential. The five-star recruit was predictably superb as a sophomore and should be even better in 2018, thanks to his work in Michigan’s conditioning program and the overall benefit of another year of experience. Who is the best lineman in the Big Ten? Gary or the next name on this list?
4. Nick Bosa, Ohio State: Ask enough people, and you’ll hear something that boggles the mind: That Nick Bosa is better at this stage of his career than his older brother, Joey, a former Ohio State star-turned-burgeoning NFL star. It’s not such a ridiculous statement. Despite splitting snaps as part of the Buckeyes’ deep defensive front, Bosa led the team last fall with 16 tackles for loss and 81⁄2 sacks. Look for those number to skyrocket in 2018.
5. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson: Lawrence’s freakish athleticism and overall skill set aren’t always reflected in the box score. He’s still impossible to ignore. At 6-4 and about 340 pounds, Lawrence is too strong to move at the point of attack and agile enough to knife through blockers and disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage. Guys this big aren’t supposed to be this athletic.
6. Raekwon Davis, Alabama: His all-conference sophomore season was not unexpected, even if Davis didn’t make much of an impact as a four-star true freshman in 2016. Few linemen can match the total package: Davis has the agility and burst that belie his 6-7, 310pound frame, which explains why his next step is All-American honors and a spot among the top linemen taken in the NFL draft.
7. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson: So Clemson’s defensive line should be OK, I guess. Ferrell broke through during the Tigers’ run to the 2016 national championship and made a run at All-American honors a year ago, when he led the team in sacks and tackles for loss. The key for Ferrell’s junior season will be consistency: Clemson needs a more complete, week-by-week performance from a lineman unanimously considered a first-round talent. 8. Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois: Before you knock Smith’s FBS-best 29.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks from a year ago, think of this: Smith compiled 19 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in NIU’s three games against Power Five competition. In other words, the junior didn’t just feast on the Mid-American Conference. He’ll be under a spotlight coming off last year’s All-American accolades, but Smith gives NIU an elite rusher for its push to a conference title.
9. Zach Allen, Boston College: Playing alongside former teammate Harold Landry has cost Allen some national attention. But the B.C. coaching staff was whispering last spring about Allen’s potential as a run-stuffing anchor along the Eagles’ front. Allen was credited with 100 tackles last fall, which even if slightly inflated is an absurd number for a down lineman. Despite his 285-pound frame, Allen is quick enough to lead the Eagles in sacks and tie for fifth in the ACC with 15.5 tackles for loss.
10. Chase Winovich: That Winovich opted to return for his final season puts Michigan’s defensive front among the nation’s best. That’s another reason — if not the main reason — why the Wolverines are a legitimate contender for the Playoff. Winovich earned the last spot on this list after making 18.5 tackles for loss in 2017. But to understand just how deep the FBS goes in terms of elite linemen, check out who just missed the list: Mississippi State’s duo of Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat as well as Clemson’s Austin Bryant. The level of talent is insane.