Life on the line can be a thankless job. Defensive tackles often get forgotten because they’re not showing up in the box score, but that doesn’t mean they’re not making plays. We take a look at the top returning defensive tackles in college football for the 2025 season, and blocking them will not be a fun process.

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25) Gracen Halton, Oklahoma

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 82.42 (B-)

If Brent Venables taking over the defense goes as planned, the Sooners defensive line is going to feast this year. That’s even with multiple departures. Gracen Halton is one of many exciting players up front for Venables, and it will come down to which of those players is the most efficient with their opportunities.

24) Martez Poynter, Toledo

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Toledo won’t have Darius Alexander on the roster since he turned pro, but the defensive tackle position is in great hands. Martez Poynter emerged as another disruptive player for the Rockets, and now it’s his time to shine for the defense.

Poynter recorded seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2024, and those numbers should only improve after a full year of experience. The Rockets look to climb back to the top of the conference, and Poynter’s production will help that endeavor.

23) Santanna Hopper, Tulane

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 78.59 (C+)

Jon Sumrall is quickly becoming an expert in navigating the transfer portal, and not just because he’s adding talent. Tulaen’s almost in a rebuild every single year because they’re losing so much talent, but Sumrall’s finding some gems in the portal to bring to campus.

Bringing in Santanna Hopper isn’t getting talked about nearly enough, but Sumrall’s okay with that. Hopper has the task of replacing Patrick Jenkins, but the former Appalachian State veteran isn’t fazed by that challenge.

22) Jaheim Oatis, Colorado

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Purely from a raw talent perspective, Jaheim Oatis is the best player on the defense for the Buffaloes in 2025. It just comes down to staying on the field and finding consistency. At one point, he was considered a promising player for Alabama, so rediscovering that could be key to helping him become a force for this defense.

21) Cameron Ball, Arkansas

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 70.55 (C-)

Arkansas lost plenty of talent to the NFL as well as the transfer portal, but keeping Cameron Ball was a big win for them. Without Landon Jackson on the edge, the line needs a proven player up front that can set expectations for everyone else.

Ball’s experience will help the other tackles around him, but his presence should also open up opportunities for the edge rushers looking to replace Jackson. It also helps a veteran tandem of linebackers in Stephen Dix Jr. and Xavian Sorey Jr. who hope to be more disruptive in 2025.

20) Travis Shaw, Texas

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Texas clearly identified the defensive tackle position as a need this year, and wasted little time going to the portal to address it. Four defensive tackles join the Longhorns roster, and three of them should be a huge part of the rotation, including former North Carolina transfer Travis Shaw.

Shaw made waves when he committed to Mack Brown and the Tar Heels, but he didn’t quite meet the hype. He’s a massive player at 6’5″ and 342 pounds, and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has proven he knows how to utilize players with that combination of size and potential.

19) Damonic Williams, Oklahoma

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Again, Oklahoma’s in great hands up front. R Mason Thomas will lead the edge rushers, and multiple defensive tackles will be in the picture. We already discussed Gracen Helton, but Damonic Williams is the best of the bunch.

The former TCU transfer thrived with the Horned Frogs, and he’s shown that he’s a competent competitor with the Sooners. If he can stay on the field more in 2025, the Sooners will wreak havoc up front even more.

18) Yilanan Ouattara, Vanderbilt

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 79.4 (C+)

It’s kind of tough to miss Yilanan Outtara when he stands 6’7″ and 311 pounds. Vanderbilt’s star defensive tackle is a force from his raw abilities, and last year we saw him become more of a factor in the Commodores’ defense.

He played in all 13 games and had a career high of 10 starts in 2024. His stats don’t wow many, but they also don’t tell the whole story. His size plugs up running lanes, which helps the linebackers behind him, but that won’t show up in the box score. Watching his film is going to be the best way to truly understand his impact.

17) Chris McClellan, Missouri

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 71.56 (C-)

Missouri’s defensive line is once again flying under the radar. The Tigers return both starting defensive tackles this year, and that’s huge in an offseason where that position was at a premium in the transfer portal.

Chris McClellan leads a talented group that also has good depth for the Tigers defense. With the offense going through plenty of transition at key pieces, this unit will be asked to step up even more while the offense figures out who will be their key contributors.

16) Domonique Orange, Iowa State

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Iowa State lost JR Singleton, Tyler Onyedim and Kenard Snyder this offseason, so the defensive line needed help. While Matt Campbell and his staff utilized the transfer portal, they also returned a guy in Domonique Orange, who would help steady the defensive line.

Orange was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection last year, and he could have an even bigger impact on the Cyclones’ defense this year. Jon Heacock’s unique defense tends to confuse teams, and Orange would be a disruptive force while teams try to figure out how to beat this scheme.

15) Aaron Hall, Duke

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

People are sleeping on Duke and their defense this year. Manny Diaz has a fun group on this side of the ball, and the defensive line is going to punish so many teams this year. Aaron Hall was a big part of this team’s success last year, and the Blue Devils hope his return can add to what should be a disruptive force in 2025.

Hall finished the year with 41 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He’s joined by Dartmouth transfer Josiah Green on the inside as well as returners Vincent Anthony Jr. and Wesley Williams on the edge.

14) Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 78.01 (C+)

If you didn’t watch Georgia Tech’s defense last year, you missed out on a lot. Linebacker Kyle Efford has the ultimate aesthetic with his neck roll, and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg reminds me of Darth Helmet from Spaceballs with how massive his helmet looks. Jokes aside, van den Berg shone for the Yellow Jackets.

While it was tough to ignore the helmet, van den Berg also put himself in the spotlight with his play. He was a second-team All-ACC selection, and he’ll lead a starting lineup that features three new transfers on the defensive line.

13) Braxton Fely, Boise State

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

Boise State’s defensive line will miss Ahmed Hassanein, but returning Braxton Fely and Jayden Virgin-Morgan will help lessen the blow. Fely put up solid numbers for the Broncos defense, posting 24 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also gave the fanbase a scare when he entered the transfer portal, though he did return.

Fely is a disruptive player for this defense, and the defensive tackle position needs to find depth if the Broncos want to have another successful run. His return gives them a veteran presence up front, and pairing him with the edge rushers should help them get back to the top of the Mountain West.

12) Rayshaun Benny, Michigan

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 80.16 (B-)

Replacing Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant is a nearly impossible task for anyone, but Michigan needs to find a way. Fortunately, they have Rayshaun Benny back to step into a more prominent role.

Michigan also brought in Tre Williams from Clemson and Damon Payne from Alabama, but Benny is the star of the show. In a rotational role, he recorded 29 tackles and four tackles for loss, but he should be able to increase those numbers with more opportunities.

11) Aaron Graves, Iowa

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 83.01 (B)

There are questions surrounding the ceiling of Iowa’s defense in 2025, but there are a couple of big names returning to the defense. Aaron Graves gave the Hawkeyes a disruptive force up front, and he’ll step into more of a leadership role to help the guys around him produce.

10) Markis Deal, TCU

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 72.58 (C-)

TCU’s looking to make a run in the Big 12 this year, and most of the attention is on quarterback Josh Hoover. Fortunately for them, the defense should be able to take some of that attention away. Markis Deal doesn’t get the recognition warranted by his game, but that should quickly change.

Deal stands 6’5″ and 325 pounds, but he’s an underrated athlete who can make quick moves at the snap to beat his man. He made a huge impact down the stretch for TCU last year, and now he’s looking to become one of the best tackles in the country in 2025.

9) Landon Robinson, Navy

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 80.80 (B-)

While Navy’s offense commands most of the attention, the defense has a group of high flying and physical individuals that will help their quest to win the American. Landon Robinson doesn’t fill up the box score, but his true impact can’t be measured fully by those stats.

Robinson opened up opportunities for the guys behind him, and he makes opposing offenses adjust their plan. Multiple new starters are needed for the Midshipmen defense, but having Robinson back makes their life easier.

8) Tim Keenan III, Alabama

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 77.55 (C+)

Alabama’s fanbase expects the team to get back to the top of the SEC, and a large part of that will be on the defense. Tim Keenan can help in that endeavor. He’s a beast on the interior defensive line, and teams constantly have to send extra blockers his way.

With a secondary that hopes to take a step in the right direction, the Tide’s defensive line can play a role in that goal this year. Keenan should be one of those pieces that will help, and their ability to live in the backfield can get this team back to prominence.

7) Christen Miller, Georgia

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 79.68 (C+)

Georgia continues its tradition of producing big time players on the defensive line with the likes of Christen Miller. It’s tough for guys to find playing time when they initially arrive to Athens, but Miller didn’t waste time making an impact on a stacked defense.

He’ll have to take on a more prominent role than he might have expected this year. The Bulldogs’ depth is extremely young and while he’s not exactly a veteran, he’ll have to be a leader to the guys who are brand new to defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s scheme.

6) Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

It’s clear that Texas Tech’s all in for the 2025 season, and they made sure to bolster the defensive line. This is a defense that struggled to stop teams in 2024, so bringing in a guy like Lee Hunter (among others) should make this unit much better.

Hunter’s a force when he’s playing his best. He gave UCF one of their few bright spots last season, and took his talents to a team with a brighter future. The Red Raiders defense must elevate their game if they want to improve, otherwise a playoff run is out of the question.

5) CJ Fite, Arizona State

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

CJ Fite is flying under the radar in college football. A second-team All-Big 12 selection, Fite was one of many players who stepped into more prominent roles last year. His play helped the Sun Devils make the College Football Playoff, and now they have a new challenge with a target on their backs.

Fite displays powerful hands frequently, and his frame prevents linemen from moving him out of his gap. He stands 6’2″ and 305 pounds, so he’ll have the size and power to be a disruptive unit for a talented Sun Devils defensive line again in 2025.

4) Caleb Banks, Florida

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 80.07 (B-)

One of the surprises for the Florida Gators was the return of Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp. Both could have gone to the NFL, but they decided to come back for another year. With a daunting schedule ahead, the Gators are thrilled to have talented and veteran players back on the line.

Banks is 6’6″ and 330 pounds, so it’s tough for opposing offense to miss him. He brings good play strength to the Gators defense, and that should help open up plays for his teammates.

3) Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 77.88 (C+)

Health will continue to be a concern for Dontay Corleone for the remainder of his career, but he’s one of the best players in the country when healthy. He could have gone to any school via the transfer portal, but chose to stick with the Bearcats for another season.

Explosive is the best way to describe his game. Corleone tends to surprise his blockers because he gets into their frame so quickly. From there, a combination of power and quickness helps him run through or shed his man fast enough to disrupt an entire play. He has a bright future, and hopefully a clean bill of health with it.

2) Zane Durant, Penn State

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: NA

There might not be a quicker first step than Zane Durant’s, and that’s a problem for the Big Ten this year. With Abdul Carter off to the NFL, the Nittany Lions’ defense has to find a new go-to player to make plays. That might come from the interior, and Durant gives them a great option.

He isn’t the biggest defensive tackle, but he makes up for that with his quickness. He packs a powerful punch and often beats his man right at the snap. This is a veteran team with many key pieces returning, so a playoff run (and maybe a national championship) is well within play this year.

1) Peter Woods, Clemson

2024 PFSN College DT+ Grade: 79.38 (C+)

How talented is Peter Woods? Clemson had to use him as a defensive end, and you couldn’t tell that it wasn’t his natural position most of the time. Woods can be a freak of nature no matter where he lines up for the Tigers, and the addition of Purdue transfer Will Heldt allows him to move back to his more natural position inside.

Woods has the power to manhandle the offensive linemen in front of him, has the quickness to shed blocks and get around the edge, and has an underrated quickness to chase down the ball carrier. With more weapons around him this year, he could be even more of a terror for the teams he faces.