2019 College Football Recruiting Class Rankings: Defensive Line

Recruiting Class Rankings by Position: DL | LB





By Corey Long – @CoreyLong
Follow @walterfootball for updates.

The top-15 defensive line recruiting classes in 2019 (including transfers).

  1. Alabama
    Key Players: Antonio Alfano, Byron Young, Ishmael Sophser, Kevin Harris, Justin Eboigbe
    This is the sort of defensive line class that breaks the mold. This group could rival the talent and depth that Clemson had on the field in 2018.


  2. Oregon
    Key Players: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Keyon Ware-Hudson, Kristian Williams
    Thibodeaux was arguably the best player in the nation in the Class of 2019. Ware-Hudson is a top 15-20 interior guy.




  3. Georgia
    Key Players: Nolan Smith, Travon Walker, Jermaine Johnson (JUCO)
    Smith and Walker have NFL-in-three-years type of upside, and Jermaine Johnson was one of the top junior college prospects in the nation.


  4. South Carolina
    Key Players: Zacch Pickens, Jaquaze Sorrells, Jahkeem Green (JUCO)
    The Gamecocks needed a big recruiting win over Clemson and got it in Pickens, who was the top prospect in South Carolina.


  5. Washington
    Key Players: Sama Paama, Laiatu Latu, Jacob Bandes
    The Huskies went after the beef to restock their line and got it as Paama, Bandes and top-five nose tackle prospect Faatui Tuitele are all over the 300-pound mark.




  6. Florida
    Key Players: Khris Bogle, Jaelin Humphries, Mohamoud Diabate
    Bogle was a major signing-day grab for the Gators as they had to beat out Alabama and Miami for him.


  7. Auburn
    Key Players: Derick Hall, Charles Moore, Jaren Handy
    Auburn dipped into Mississippi and grabbed who some consider the best two prospects in the state with Moore and Handy.


  8. Michigan
    Key Players: Chris Hinton, Mazi Smith, Michael Morris
    There will be a bit of a youth movement up front for the Wolverines, so Hinton and Smith could get extended time. Central Michigan transfer Mike Danna will also be an experienced body.




  9. Texas A&M
    Key Players: DeMarvin Leal, Derick Hunter, Josh Ellison
    Leal is a top-five prospect in Texas and gives the Aggies a legitimate talent in the interior with NFL upside.


  10. Mississippi State
    Key Players: Nathan Pickering, Azi Izuchukwu
    The Bulldogs will have to replace a couple of high-round picks on that defensive line, and Pickering is a nice player to build a new group around.


  11. Oklahoma
    Key Players: Marcus Stripling, David Ugwoegbu, Joseph Wete
    Although the Sooners couldn’t get in on DeMarvin Leal, it’s still a solid class of contributors who should develop into a nice unit.


  12. Clemson
    Key Players: Tyler Davis, Tayquon Johnson
    Although the Tigers missed out on Zacch Pickens, they were able to snag Tyler Davis from conference rival Florida State.




  13. Stanford
    Key Players: Stephen Herron Jr., Joshua Pakola
    Herron Jr. was the top defensive prospect from Kentucky and a solid addition to the always-tough Cardinal front.


  14. Notre Dame
    Key Players: Isaiah Foskey, Jacob Lacey, NaNa Osafo-Mensah
    The Fighting Irish dipped into Texas to pull Mensah and defensive tackle Hunter Spears, both top 35-40 prospects from the Lone Star state.


  15. Miami
    Key Players: Jahfari Harvey, Trevon Hill (Virginia Tech transfer), Chigozie Nnoruka (UCLA transfer)
    The Hurricanes need some quick fix depth at defensive line and did well in the transfer market with Hill and Nnoruka.




Recruiting Class Rankings by Position: DL | LB








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