Best Defensive Ends
If you want the best defensive end in CFB 26, Rueben Bain Jr. at Miami is the 98 OVR answer. David Bailey (Texas Tech) trails by 1 at 97 OVR, so the top of the board is a real two-way race. By rank 25 you're at 88 OVR (Cameron Robertson, SMU) — that's the floor for an immediate-starter tier-one defensive end on a national-championship roster.
The Top 25
Ranked by overall rating at dynasty start (Launch / National Championship). Click a team to open its full dynasty guide.
| # | Player | Pos | Team | OVR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rueben Bain Jr. | RE | Jr | Miami | 98 | Play Recognition 99 |
| 02 | David Bailey | LE | Sr | Texas Tech | 97 | Awareness 99 |
| 03 | T.J. Parker | LE | Jr | Clemson | 95 | Play Recognition 97 |
| 04 | Colin Simmons | RE | So | Texas | 94 | Pursuit 98 |
| 05 | Keldric Faulk | LE | Jr | Auburn | 93 | Power Moves 96 |
| 06 | Derrick Moore | RE | Sr | Michigan | 93 | Play Recognition 97 |
| 07 | Mikail Kamara | LE | Sr | Indiana | 92 | Awareness 98 |
| 08 | Akheem Mesidor | LE | Sr | Miami | 92 | Power Moves 96 |
| 09 | Matayo Uiagalelei | RE | Jr | Oregon | 92 | Power Moves 96 |
| 10 | Dani Dennis-Sutton | LE | Sr | Penn State | 91 | Awareness 97 |
| 11 | Cashius Howell | RE | Sr | Texas A&M | 91 | Finesse Moves 95 |
| 12 | Dylan Stewart | RE | So | South Carolina | 91 | Acceleration 96 |
| 13 | R Mason Thomas | RE | Sr | Oklahoma | 91 | Pursuit 97 |
| 14 | Trey White | RE | Jr | San Diego State | 91 | Finesse Moves 98 |
| 15 | Caden Curry | LE | Sr | Ohio State | 90 | Power Moves 93 |
| 16 | Romello Height | RE | Sr | Texas Tech | 90 | Acceleration 93 |
| 17 | Michael Heldman | RE | Sr | Central Michigan | 90 | Pursuit 97 |
| 18 | Joshua Josephs | RE | Sr | Tennessee | 90 | Finesse Moves 95 |
| 19 | Malachi Lawrence | RE | Sr | UCF | 89 | Awareness 93 |
| 20 | Clev Lubin | RE | Jr | Louisville | 89 | Finesse Moves 94 |
| 21 | LT Overton | LE | Sr | Alabama | 89 | Awareness 93 |
| 22 | Zion Young | LE | Sr | Missouri | 89 | Pursuit 95 |
| 23 | John Henry Daley | LE | So | Utah | 88 | Finesse Moves 96 |
| 24 | Ethan Hurkett | RE | Sr | Iowa | 88 | Injury 95 |
| 25 | Cameron Robertson | LE | Sr | SMU | 88 | Awareness 92 |
What the list says
The SEC owns this list with 8 of the top 25. If you're recruiting against the conference, you're recruiting against the position's deepest pool.
16 of the top 25 are seniors. Most of this list disappears in 12 months, so if you're recruiting toward the position, target your Year 1 class for replacements — don't expect to inherit a starter.