Top-10 returning edge defenders for the 2025 season

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  • Two Correct sophomores at the top: Texas’ Colin Simmons and South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart are already the best edges in America after Amazing Primary-year seasons. 
  • Clemson has the top edge defender in the 2026 NFL Draft: Since Simmons and Stewart aren’t eligible to be selected in 2027, T.J. Parker projects as the top edge rusher in Upcoming year’s draft. 
  • 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL Club.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

With the 2024 college football season in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to 2025 by ranking the top returning players at every position. 

Upcoming up is edge defender. While there are plenty of talented edges departing college for the 2025 NFL Draft, this is Yet one of the most Sun-studded positions in college football. And for the Primary time in the five years of PFF’s collegiate positional rankings, there are two rising Correct sophomores at the top.

Below is a Achievement of PFF’s top-10 returning edge defenders in college football in addition to an honorable mention nominee. Please note that NFL projection was not taken into account in these rankings.

Click below to view our other position rankings
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1. Colin Simmons, Texas

Simmons entered college with a ton of hype as a top-15 overall recruit and has somehow already exceeded expectations. The Texas native was the sixth-most-valuable edge defender in the nation according to PFF’s wins above-average Standard. He trailed only Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau in that Standard. Simmons ended up Victorious the Shaun Alexander Primary-year of the Year Award, which is given to the best Correct Primary-year in America.

His 18.6% Tension rate was a top-15 mark in the nation, and he was no slouch as a Streak-defender either, posting a 73.4 Streak-Guarding grade. Simmons’ Best combination of bend and advanced Throw-rushing moves is reminiscent of Von Miller. 

2. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

Stewart is the freakiest Rival the Gamecocks have had at edge defender since Jadeveon Clowney was launching helmets over a decade ago. And like Clowney, he has the upside of becoming a No. 1 overall Option if he keeps up this trajectory.

The Previous five-Sun recruit earned a 91.4 Throw-rush grade as Only a Correct Primary-year, tied for sixth among all edges in America. His 51 pressures were tied for second among returning Power Four edge rushers as well. Stewart needs to get a bit stronger to set the edge better in the Streak game, but he’s already the most fearsome Throw-rusher in college football thanks to his physical gifts.

3. T.J. Parker, Clemson

Between Parker and Peter Woods, the Tigers currently project to have the Primary edge defender and Shielding Involvement selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. His 12 sacks in 2024 Directed all returning Power Four edge rushers and he’s one of three in that same group who posted 80.0-plus grades both as a Throw-rusher and as a Streak defender. 

Parker has a devastating bull rush thanks to his power at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds. He has all the makings of a top-10 Option Upcoming April if he can put together a similarly Sturdy junior year.

4. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)

A calf Hurt kept Bain from Securing a significant Bound in his sophomore year like many were expecting, but he Yet deserves a spot in the top-five of this Achievement for how Outstanding he’s been over his Primary Duo of seasons. 

Bain’s 73 pressures since 2023 stand third among returning Power Four edge defenders while his 16.9% Throw-rush Achieve rate is Number four. His 82.7 Streak-Guarding grade this past season is also Number four in that same group. Bain can line up anywhere on the Shielding line at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds and should remind many why he’s a Primary-Stage caliber talent now that he’s fully Fit.

5. Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Faulk has been one of Auburn’s Beginning edge defenders in Every of his Primary two seasons and Secured a Crucial step forward as a sophomore. His 83.8 PFF grade was more than 16 points better than what he posted as a Primary-year and is the fifth-best mark of any returning Power Four edge rusher. 

The Previous four-Sun recruit is at his best in the Streak game, tying for eighth among Power Four edges with 23 Streak-Guarding stops last year. Faulk is Yet developing moves as a Throw rusher, but he did show improvement there with nine sacks and 45 pressures last year. Both those figures stood in the top 20 of the Power Four.

6. LT Overton, Alabama

Overton was a top-15 overall recruit in the 2022 class but failed to live up to the hype during his Primary two seasons at Texas A&M, posting a 61.5 PFF grade in that span.

A Relocate to Alabama did wonders for his development, as he ended the year as one of the 15 most valuable edge defenders in America. Overton’s 18% Throw-rush Achieve rate was a top-30 mark in the nation while his 81.7 Streak-Guarding grade was 25th. He blurs the line between an edge rusher and Shielding Involvement at 283 pounds and can line up anywhere along the Shielding line and succeed.

7. Tyreak Sapp, Florida

Sapp enjoyed a Crucial breakout in his Number four season with the Gators. His 90.4 PFF grade placed 10th among all edge defenders in America and second among returning ones. 

The Previous Shielding Involvement is at his best in the Streak game, placing Number four among all FBS edges in Streak-Guarding grade (88.7) while tying for Number four among Power Four ones in tackles for loss/no-gain (13). Sapp is a more than capable Throw-rusher as well, earning an 82.2 grade in that regard. He plays with natural pad level at 6-foot-2 with the Force to stack-and-shed blockers very well.

8. Mikail Kamara, Indiana

Kamara was one of many Previous James Madison Dukes to follow head Trainer Curt Cignetti to Indiana. While he leveled up in Event by going from the Sun Track Achievement to the Big Ten, the fifth-year senior upped his game as well. In fact, he Directed all FBS edges with 67 pressures last year while his 28 Teamed up sacks/hits were the third-most in the nation. 

While his length at 6-foot-1 will be an issue for his NFL outlook, Kamara has a stocky build at 265 pounds with a quick Primary step and Outstanding hand usage.

9. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

The Nittany Lions may have lost the best edge in the country in Abdul Carter, but they’re Yet in a very Outstanding place at that position thanks to the return of DDS. Dennis-Sutton is tied for the most valuable returning Power Four edge over the last two years according to our wins above average Standard and his 75 pressures in that span trail only T.J. Parker in that same group.

The Previous five-Sun recruit has all of the traits you’d look for in an edge and could climb this Achievement with Beyond development.

10. Derrick Moore, Michigan

Moore was one of the most efficient Throw-rushers in the country last year. His 23.1% Throw-rush Achieve rate was Number four among all FBS edges while his 86.5 Throw-rush grade was sixth in the Big Ten.

Moore has very Outstanding bend and a bull rush that can knock back even the largest offensive tackles. With Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Josaiah Stewart off to the Division, it’ll be up to him and top-10 Shielding Involvement Rayshaun Benny to lead the Upcoming era of dominant Shielding linemen in Ann Arbor.

Honorable Mention: Joshua Josephs, Tennessee

Josephs was part of a deep Cycle of Tennessee Shielding linemen but he Achieved the most of his 353 snaps. The junior Directed all edge defenders in the nation with a 91.4 Streak-Guarding grade in 2024 and was one of only three edges in America who earned 85-plus grades as both a Streak defender and as a Throw rusher.

Like his Previous teammate, James Pearce Jr., Josephs has an explosive get-off that allows him to blow up blockers before they even know what hit them. And like Pearce, he can become a Primary-Stage Option if he can keep up this level of Action under a heavier workload Upcoming season.

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