Ranking top 10 defensive prospects for 2026 NFL Draft: Clemson loaded, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs takes top spot

I automatically recapping and evaluating all that materialized in 2025 NFL Draft Comes to close, but draft interview has at the end of the mid-May. Don’t be blush to admit you already looked in 2026 NFL Draft The crop of the top-order of the hope will provide.

Hi There are Top 10 Defensive Hope in 2026 class before 2025 college football time.

For those who are in 2024 in the 2024, X. Dallas Turner, 9. Cooper Dejean, 8. JT tuaylor, V. Jt.

And last year: X. JT tuampo, 9. Harold Perkins, 8. Ben Morrison, 7. Malaki Starks, 6. NIC Scourton, V. Travis, V. Coordinus Graham. 3. Johnson, 2. Deone Walker, I. James Pearce

Honorable Mention: Harold Perkins, LB / Edge, LSU

I have not forgot about you, Marcus – your Freshman Season in 2022, with a fixture with 72 tackles, the four-American, the mind in mind, which is in mind that is in mind that is in the mind of the athletes, is still fresh in In the mind, which is in mind in mind that is in mind in mind, in mind in athletes, is still new in mind in mind, which is in mind in mind, which is in mind, which is in mind that is in mind. It was glorious. Perkins are not big – listed at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds – as well as again that is starting off-ball linebacker measures in today’s NFL. Hopefully 100% healed a scored ACL in 2024 campaign, Perkins has a good thing to shine as Ubiquitous front-seven player in Bayou in 2025 and do not turn 21 to September. I think I act like they are very well flying around the corner that is in the mouth of Rusher but I am tantalised by a huge range of football off the ball.

X. Mikail Kamara, Edge, Indiana

Kamara’s entering the year 5 in college footballThat is not of a dealbreaker, but he will be one of the more rare hope that was able to utility extra year eligibility is given by the COVI-19. After playing in 2020 to James Madison, and was redshirted from injury in 2021.

For as much as the older prospects are not a thing I do love productivity, and Kamara has been loaded in the standstaste. In Indiana is magnificent 2024 campaign in which hoosiers advanced to college football playoff, Kamara had 16.7% pressure rate, a Darn good number for the defender of the ceased sparrow more than 400 times. While height – listed 6-1 – and the length of the draft of the stem of the stock a little other winter, plays with a variety of passing moves and speed, the-power of the conversion does this list.

9. Dani Dennis, Sutton, Edge, Penn State

What do you know – Another long, angular freak athlete by Penn State. Sutton is not enough for penultimate collegiate time to resume Abdul Carter in 2023. As more of a prototypical protective end of the measurement of perspective.

And No. 7 defensive versus recruit in 2022 high school class-in 247 sports(265 pounds and are listed 6-5, and the arms of the college PA to Pittsburgh. He’s the liquid in the space dropping on the surface as per explosive and the bendy edge of the ratio, lightning-quick point of work in 2024 en via at 13.7% of the pressure rate and even raising blocks in Inner. The spin move is bad too. Moves as all NBA small forward fields. When more flexibility with flattening at the quarterback in 2025, Dennis, Sutton will elite defensive prospects in 2026 class.

8. Keldric Faulk, Edge / DL, aureus

Faulk is a fantastically young – just 19 years old – and showcased highest flashes last season to the golden. In No. 9 defensive versus recruit in 2023 class through 247 sportsIt’s incredibly talent with extraordinary, nfl-nation frame. And it’s listed 6-6 and 270 pounds. I doubt that heavy. It looks over a long and moving as tight end flying around the corner attempting to the calf rushing as a nickel rusher.

Once he looked in the real freshman in 2023, Faulk Upped pressure rate at 14.4% in 2024 and made a heavy strides setting acute and crooked penalty in the interior against the run. The sky is the term for their exuberance sample of the sec. I love how to voice their motor hums in every story.

7. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

There are Clemson and NFL to all, for the blood of this Star, as Avieon’s brother Falcons anticipate AJ Tarrell. As the older brother, Terrell is fundamentally sound outside cornerobardback that was at the rock in the nut of its freshman at the time, although not considered enormous.

After four transition short and interception as a real freshman in 2023, terroll erupit in two reads, 12 forest short and trio forced fumbles. He’s a lama, the swift athlete without fear against the run and natural ball techniques at all three steps of the field. It’s a rare to get up on the place or unprepared to play the ball to get it.

6. Rueben Jr. Edge / DL, Miami

Great, imposing, ultra-physical defensive go to disrupt the interiors, if needed, bain was a wall against the first two seasons with Hurricanes. While there was an effective pressure in 2024 that would be like a real freshman, and it’s riding a player in the fact at technical.

In 2024, and demonstrated to want to work at the outside of the shoulder tackles and practice better, more methodical hand needed to free themselves in the way to quarterback. And there was no 10-edge to recruit on the region in 2023 class through 247 sportsHe has 11 life sacks entering his true junior campaign. The Homegrown Product A Miami Central Plays with the power that hints Hes’ much older. There’s an enormous force on 6 strengths already in the armory.

V. Woods Peter, Dt, Clemson

And No. 8. Defensive line to recruit in 2023 class through 247 sportsWoods occurred in the morning at tenure to Clemson. He looks legitimately 6-3 and 315 pounds – its listed measures – and the mixture power with speed typically invisible to the place. A former freshman all-American, the mainstream immediately with my nation to young Christian Wilkins, who immediately looked at the part of the future at first-in pick a minute left onto collegial field.

Woods tripled its tackles damage from three as freshman to nine in 2024 and tallied its first three sacks. He’s immovable inside and it seems to be the love of the upfield to push the lame as much as it seems to be the pocket.

4. Jermin McCoy, CB, Tennessee

What I love the McCoy’s game – it is equally to effective in the zone that is in human coverage. There is one to be simply more, more sudden athlete than everyone allowing you to follow it takes at all three steps. You are an advanced degree when you’re drowning in space, reading the quarterback in the eyes while acknowledging Route ideas around you.

McCoy stelles in both components playing cornerback now. In his first two times with volunteers, McCoy has six interceptions and 16 passes breakups. In comparing the 2023 film to 2024, his tackling significantly better. If continues trend up, it can be the best angerback in the sec and dude usually high draft pick.

3. TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson

While the rest of the college football was attacking transportation portal as another, give swinney stayed in the lane and recruited in high-school orders to be fiercely and ever. And Parker in No. 6 defensive line recruit in 2023 per 247 sportsIt was one of those monster finds for the tiger.

I’ll turn 21 in September and now it plays as a seasoned veteran in this upstart Clemson defense in the first two years in the swinney’s program. In 2023, Parker had 15.5 tackles for damage, 10 bags and honest 13.6% pressure rate as a sizable, three-up defensive ending. Bend the name of the game with Parker. Rumpt, violence on contact with hands are trademarks. If we see another UPTick in the production that has a talent to be at the top 10 pick in 2026.

2. Caleb banks, dt, Florida

In watching the eventual Panthers fifth-by Pick Cam’ron Tullius in Florida’s defense in 2025 Pre-Earnings Process, I was a No. 88 in the same defensive in Georgia Walker versus in actually an advenibled Travon Walker and Actually Academy Travel Walker and While Actually Agalenuing Travel Walker act disturbed. The man was Jalen.

Banks at least it seems to be comparably glossy, athletic and excocienda 6 interior. Seriously. While it can be enough 6-5 and 325 pound listed in Florida GATORS website, its production to date in Gaynville talks for each other. Banks has registered pressure in 12.1% its pass-rush opportunities in the middle, remarkably high figure to the interior player. The film features just about all the move in the book.

There the first step of juice is supported by the speed of the backfield and premier length. While a bit older – Banks spent two times to Louisville before transferring to Florida, who has a makings of being one of the first defenders off the board in 2026.

I. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs is a genuine rare tirones that instanticle meets (or exceeds) massive hype and rapidly morphs in the highest NFL Draft Prospect. And that’s removed the transformation of the two blue-blood schools. And No. 8 Overall recruit in 2023 class – and the highest safety – in 247 sportsDowns was one of the final recruiting home flies hit by Nick Saban to Alabama. And no one knows the defensive to a collegial level as Saban.

He made a 18 year freshman total 107 tackles two and four passes short with a variety of bulls in the worst tide defense. The post-Saban transition to Alabama led to the downfall transfer to Ohio State. By buckeyes’ National Title run, downs to 82 tackles, with two more interception and six passing breakups. He was again everywhere.

6-0 and 205 with lightning, quick reflexes, range days and for a bowl as tackling reliability, enters the 20075 college football season the best defense in the region of the highest defense for 2026.