The Top Players in College Football (Defense)
The 2022 college football season officially gets underway this week, with Week 1 beginning on Thursday. With that in mind, it is time to discuss some of the best players to watch as the season begins. Here are some of the top players in college football on the defensive side of the ball ahead of the 2022 season.
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EDGE Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)
Over his first two seasons in college football, Will Anderson has emerged as the most dominant defensive player in the country. He led the NCAA with an absurd 31 TFLs and 17.5 sacks in 2021, and unless a QB-needy team lands the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, he is the favorite to be selected first overall in the draft. Another historic season with the Crimson Tide only solidifies his position at the top of the draft board.
EDGE Myles Murphy (Clemson)
The Clemson Tigers have a terrific defensive front, but at the top of that defense is defensive end Myles Murphy. During his sophomore year, Murphy recorded 14.5 TFLs and eight sacks, leading the program in both areas. Another strong year should ensure being a first-round selection in the 2023 draft, and it will help ensure that Clemson competes for the ACC title after a disappointing 2021 season.
DL Jalen Carter (Georgia)
The Georgia Bulldogs had a historic season on the defensive side of the ball on the way to a national championship. Many of their players have moved on to the NFL, but perhaps the best player of that 2021 defensive group remains. Jalen Carter is a bulldozer on the defensive line at 6’3, 310 pounds. If he matches last year’s production, there’s a very good chance he goes in the top-10 of the 2023 draft.
DL Bryan Bresee (Clemson)
Joining Murphy on the Clemson defensive line is Bryan Bresee, a defensive tackle who was the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2020 before tearing his ACL four games into the 2021 season. Now, he returns to the starting lineup looking to get back to his freshman form and should be another key piece for the Tigers to compete this season.
LB Noah Sewell (Oregon)
The Sewell name has been a very prestigious one in recent years among college football, and Noah Sewell has a terrific chance to live up to all the expectations this year. 2021 was a breakout year for the linebacker as he recorded 114 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four sacks, and an interception. As a result, Oregon won 10 games for the second time in three years, and Sewell should be an enforcer in the middle of the Ducks defense again this season.
LB Andre Carter (Army)
Army rarely has players that emerge at the top of a draft class, but Andre Carter could be the school’s first NFL draft selection since 2008. At 6’7 and 260 pounds he is an athletic freak on the defensive side of the ball and constantly wreaks havoc on opposing offenses.
CB Eli Ricks (Alabama)
After transferring from LSU, the Alabama Crimson Tide pair the top pass-rusher in college football with arguably the top defensive back as well in Eli Ricks. Ricks had a down year in 2021 as he struggled through injuries after a stellar freshman campaign in 2020. Over his first 14 games, the cornerback has recorded six pass defenses and five interceptions. He should instantly be a focal point of the Crimson Tide defense.
CB Kelee Ringo (Georgia)
Kelee Ringo had the ultimate poster moment of the 2021 season when he recorded a pick-six to help seal the Georgia Bulldogs national title. Ringo is the ultimate competitor, and it showed in the biggest moments last year. If he can become a more consistent player, there is no question he will be one of the first defensive backs off the board in 2023.
S Jordan Battle (Alabama)
Jordan Battle has a very fitting name for his style of play in the secondary. He is a warrior on every snap and brings an intensity to the Alabama secondary. Ricks joining him at cornerback takes some attention away from him, but it also frees him up to potentially be more of a playmaker. Battle had two pick-sixes in 2021, and another year like that would make him a high-profile draft prospect.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh can often be found training for a marathon, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his takes, NFL and otherwise, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken