Best Defensive Linemen
If you want the best defensive linemen 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 90 OVR (Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati) — that's the floor for an immediate-starter tier-one defensive linemen 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 | Peter Woods | DT | Jr | Clemson | 95 | Strength 95 |
| 05 | Christen Miller | DT | Jr | Georgia | 94 | Toughness 97 |
| 06 | Colin Simmons | RE | So | Texas | 94 | Pursuit 98 |
| 07 | Keldric Faulk | LE | Jr | Auburn | 93 | Power Moves 96 |
| 08 | Derrick Moore | RE | Sr | Michigan | 93 | Play Recognition 97 |
| 09 | Mikail Kamara | LE | Sr | Indiana | 92 | Awareness 98 |
| 10 | Akheem Mesidor | LE | Sr | Miami | 92 | Power Moves 96 |
| 11 | Matayo Uiagalelei | RE | Jr | Oregon | 92 | Power Moves 96 |
| 12 | Dani Dennis-Sutton | LE | Sr | Penn State | 91 | Awareness 97 |
| 13 | Aaron Graves | DT | Sr | Iowa | 91 | Awareness 96 |
| 14 | Gracen Halton | DT | Sr | Oklahoma | 91 | Power Moves 96 |
| 15 | Cashius Howell | RE | Sr | Texas A&M | 91 | Finesse Moves 95 |
| 16 | Tim Keenan III | DT | Sr | Alabama | 91 | Impact Blocking 97 |
| 17 | Kayden McDonald | DT | Jr | Ohio State | 91 | Strength 95 |
| 18 | Landon Robinson | DT | Sr | Navy | 91 | Toughness 97 |
| 19 | Dylan Stewart | RE | So | South Carolina | 91 | Acceleration 96 |
| 20 | R Mason Thomas | RE | Sr | Oklahoma | 91 | Pursuit 97 |
| 21 | A'Mauri Washington | DT | Jr | Oregon | 91 | Toughness 98 |
| 22 | Trey White | RE | Jr | San Diego State | 91 | Finesse Moves 98 |
| 23 | Caleb Banks | DT | Sr | Florida | 90 | Strength 95 |
| 24 | Rayshaun Benny | DT | Sr | Michigan | 90 | Toughness 96 |
| 25 | Dontay Corleone | DT | Sr | Cincinnati | 90 | Strength 97 |
What the list says
The SEC owns this list with 9 of the top 25. If you're recruiting against the conference, you're recruiting against the position's deepest pool.
14 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.