Best Defensive Linemen in College Football History

There is nothing more terrifying for a quarterback than a defensive lineman rushing toward them. We’ve seen countless great defensive linemen in college football and we want to highlight their successful careers.

Here are the ten best defensive linemen in college football history. Check out the highlights of these all-time great college defenders below.

10 Jadeveon Clowney: South Carolina, 2011 to 2013

• Tackles: 130(47 For Losses)
• Sacks: 24
• 2012 SEC Defensive POTY
• Iconic Tackle in 2013 Outback Bowl

2012 SEC Defensive POTY Jadeveon Clowney starts off the list of the best defensive linemen in college football history. While playing at South Carolina, nobody made an impact on defense quite like Clowney.

In Jadeveon’s three years at SC, he recorded 130 tackles and 47 of those tackles were for losses. Clowney was the most dominant defensive player in 2012, which earned him SEC Defensive POTY honors.

His most iconic moment was his massive hit and fumble recovery at the 2013 Outback Bowl.

9 Julius Peppers: North Carolina, 1998 to 2001

• Total Tackles: 167(53 For Losses)
• Sacks: 30.5(UNC Record)
• Most Sacks in 2000
• Chuck Bednarik, Lombardi, Bill Willis Award Winner

Julius Peppers made his mark as one of the best defensive linemen in college history while playing at North Carolina. During Peppers’ college career, he recorded 167 tackles and a school record 30.5 career sacks.

Fifteen of those sacks were recorded during his sophomore year showing he had pro-level potential. Peppers lived up to all of his potential by winning the Chuck Bednarik, Lombardi, and Bill Willis Awards.

8 Glenn Dorsey: LSU, 2004 to 2007 

• Total Tackles: 179(27 For Losses)
• Sacks: 13
• 2007 Lombardi, Outland, Nagurski Winner
• Played Through Injuries in 2007 Championship Win

All-time great defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey was part of one of the greatest eras of LSU football. From 2004 to 2007, Dorsey was one the anchors on LSU’s historically tough team.

While playing for LSU, Glenn recorded 179 tackles, 27 for losses, and 13 sacks in four years. He won everything from the 2007 Lombardi Award, Outland Award, and Nagurski Award.

Glenn’s most iconic moment was playing through injuries to help lead LSU to the 2007 national title.

7 Terrell Suggs: Arizona State, 2000 to 2002

• Total Tackles: 163(65.5 For Losses)
• Sacks: 44
• 2002 Bronco Nagurski, Ted Hendricks, and Lombardi Winner
• NCAA Single Season Sack Record: 22

Before Terrell Suggs became an all-time NFL linebacker, he was one of the best defensive linemen in college football history. At Arizona State, Suggs wreaked havoc on opposing offenses from 2000 to 2002.

During that time, Terrell recorded 163 tackles, 65.5 of which were for losses, and 44 sacks. Suggs still holds the single-season NCAA sack record with 22 sacks in 2002.

That impressive year by Terrell led him to win almost every defensive player award and get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

6 Warren Sapp: Miami, 1992 to 1994

• Total Tackles: 176
• Sacks: 19.5
• 1994 Nagurski, Lombardi, Willis Award Winner
• 84 Tackles in 1994

Warren Sapp made his name as one of the best defensive linemen in college football history on the Miami Hurricanes. He was one of the biggest personalities on those tough Miami Hurricane teams, who led their defense to lots of success.

In Sapp’s three years in college, he recorded 176 tackles and 19.5 sacks. Of his 176 total tackles, Warren recorded 84 of them during the 1994 season which won him numerous awards.

His success in college led him to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became an all-time great defensive tackle.

5 Lee Roy Selmon: Oklahoma, 1972 to 1975

• Total Tackles: 325
• Sacks: 40
• 2x National Champion

Lee Roy Selmon was part of one of the greatest defensive lines in college history. He and his real-life brothers played alongside one another at Oklahoma.

Selmon dominated opposing offenses by recording 325 tackles and 40 sacks from 1972 to 1975. The Sooner legend played a large role in Oklahoma’s back-to-back national title wins in 1974 and 1975.

4 Bruce Smith: Virginia Tech, 1981 to 1984

• 71 Tackles For Losses(Equaling 504 Yards)
• Sacks: 46
• CFB Hall of Famer
• Helped Established V-Tech’s Football Team

For many, Bruce Smith belongs at the top of the list of best defensive linemen in college football history. With a nickname like “Mr. Sack,” it would be hard not to be Smith near the top of the list.

Bruce Smith almost single-handedly brought Virginia Tech to prominence during his incredible college career. He recorded a school record 46 sacks and his 71 tackles for losses equals a staggering 504 yards.

Smith is undisputably one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football.

3 Ndamukong Suh: Nebraska, 2005 to 2009

• Total Tackles: 214(57 Tackles For Losses)
• Sacks: 24
• 2009 AP College POTY
• 2009 Lombardi, Outland, and Nagurski Winner

From 2005 to 2009, there was no more feared defensive tackle than Ndamukong Suh. The Nebraska legend played with a fiery anger that intimidated opposing offenses. 

In 2009, Suh was a one-man wrecking crew and laid a path of destruction in college football. He almost single-handedly won the Big 12 game in Texas, which earned him 4th in Heisman voting.

Ndamukong went on to earn 2009 AP College POTY honors and won nearly every defensive player award in college.

2 Reggie White: Tennessee, 1980 to 1983

• Total Tackles: 293
• Sacks: 32
• 1983 SEC POTY
• Considered One of the Greatest

No list of the best defensive linemen in college football history would be complete without the great Reggie White. “The Minister of Defense” was one of the nicest players ever, but a monster on the gridiron.

While playing at Tennessee from 1980 to 1983, White recorded 293 tackles and 32 sacks. His incredible run in college culminated with Reggie winning the 1983 SEC POTY award.

Then as we all know, Reggie went to the NFL and became one of the greatest of all time.

1 Hugh Green: Pittsburgh, 1977 to 1980

• Total Tackles: 460
• Sacks: 53 Sacks
• 1980 Lombardi, Maxwell, Camp Winner
• 1980 Heisman Runner-Up

Of all the best defensive linemen in college football history, none can touch the career of Hugh Green. The Pittsburgh legendary marked his name as an all-time great during his college career.

If you look at Green’s statistics, they don’t even seem possible. The great defensive end recorded a staggering 460 tackles and 5 sacks during his college career. 

This unbelievable feat led Green to win nearly every defensive player award and almost winning the Heisman Trophy.