• Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr.: The rising junior leads this list and would likely be the first edge defender off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft if he was eligible.
• Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton: The Aggies picked up a superstar through the transfer portal in the former Purdue sophomore.
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Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
With the 2023 college football season in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to 2024 by ranking the top returning players at every position.
Next up is edge defender. It’s a very strong position heading into next year, with eight of the 12 most valuable Power Five edges from this past season returning to school, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
Below is a list of PFF’s 10 best returning edge defenders in college football, in addition to an honorable mention. Please note that NFL projections were not taken into account in these rankings.
Click below to view our other position rankings:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL | DI
1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Volunteers
Pearce became one of the most fearsome pass rushers in college football this past season. The sophomore’s 21.3% pressure rate ranked third among all edge defenders in the country, as did his 92.4 pass-rush grade. Pearce ended the season as the fourth-most-valuable Power Five edge defender, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
He has freakish explosiveness at 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, and he converts speed to power at an elite level. With the 2025 NFL Draft looking like it’ll feature a weaker quarterback class, there’s a real chance that Pearce could be the No. 1 overall pick.
Just *some* of the freakshow plays James Pearce Jr. made as a sophomore.
EDGE1 in CFB.
EDGE1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
EDGE1 in the 2024 NFL Draft if he was eligible.
Hell, he may even go 1st overall next year in what looks like a weaker QB class.pic.twitter.com/4k7ms6pBgg
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 13, 2024
2. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Aggies
Like Pearce, Scourton had a breakout true sophomore campaign. His 21.3% pass-rush win rate in 2023 placed ninth among edge defenders, while his 25 run-defense stops tied for the third most in the Power Five.
Unlike Pearce, Scourton will play for a new school in 2024 after transferring to Texas A&M from Purdue in January. The Aggies are getting a powerful edge defender at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds who flashes a nasty spin move often.
I think this Nic Scourton dude likes the spin move… Inside, outside, interior alignment. 🌪️🌪️🌪️
Huge 2023 season. On his way to Texas A&M for 2024. Legit power and twitch as a rusher pic.twitter.com/Fc3TtWGXba
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 9, 2024
3. Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Buckeyes
Sawyer was arguably the most well-rounded edge defender in the nation this past year. He was the only FBS edge to earn 85.0-plus grades both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. Among returning Power Five edge defenders, only Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. was more valuable in 2023, according to PFF's wins above average metric.
Sawyer’s game is centered on his power profile at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. If the former top-five recruit can add more pass-rushing moves to his arsenal in his senior season, he can climb even further up this list.
Jack Sawyer is such a well-rounded player.
Only edge in the nation this past season with 85-plus pass rushing and run-defending grades.
Powerful player who’s the star of what should be one of the best DL in the country.
pic.twitter.com/q6c5Ax2DPL— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 13, 2024
4. Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina Tar Heels
No returning Power Five edge defender has been more valuable than Rucker over the past two seasons, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. The rising senior leads that same group in pressures (96) in that span, and his 42 run-defense stops are tied for second among all Power Five edges, returning or not.
While Rucker doesn’t have great length at just 6-foot-2, he possesses a stocky build at 265 pounds. He’s a relentless player with great explosiveness, bend and hand usage.
#UNC EDGE Kaimon Rucker is so damn flexible and quick for his size (6-1½, 265). After having a massive start to the season against South Carolina (5½ TFLS, 2 sacks) Rucker added two more sacks against Pitt on Saturday.
Has already surpassed his sack/TFL totals from last year. pic.twitter.com/0SGDigbXof
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 27, 2023
5. Ashton Gillotte, Louisville Cardinals
Gillotte is a powerful edge defender at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds who is at his best in the run game. The junior’s 84.8 run-defense grade this past season ranked eighth among college football edge defenders.
He’s no slouch as a pass rusher, placing 10th among FBS edge defenders with 58 pressures in 2023. Gillotte is a quick player for someone his size and can win from any alignment on the defensive line.
Ashton Gillotte excelled as both a run defender and pass rusher for Louisville this past season.
Powerful player at 270 pounds who has great movement ability at that size.
Top-5 EDGE for me in CFB. pic.twitter.com/z1blnGUaaX
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 13, 2024
6. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Bain is the only rising sophomore on this list, thanks to his eye-opening true freshman campaign. The former top-60 recruit posted an 89.3 pass-rush grade in 2023. That’s the second-best mark by a Power Five true freshman since PFF began charting college football in 2014. Three of the other players in the top five are currently among the best players in the NFL at their respective positions, and the other is currently one of the best linebackers in college football.
Highest Pass-Rushing Grades by Power Five True Freshman in PFF College Era | Since 2014, min. 150 Pass-Rushing Snaps
| Name | School | Season | Pass-Rush Grade |
| Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | 2014 | 92.1 |
| Rueben Bain Jr. | Miami (FL) | 2023 | 89.3 |
| Harold Perkins | LSU | 2022 | 87.6 |
| Nick Bosa | Ohio State | 2016 | 85.0 |
| Dexter Lawrence | Clemson | 2016 | 83.1 |
Bain’s 18.4% pass-rush win rate in 2023 was a top-15 mark among Power Five edge defenders, while his 18 run-defense stops tied for sixth in the ACC. He’s a bigger edge defender, at 275 pounds, and already has advanced hand usage for a player his age. Expect Bain to climb this list in the coming years.
Highest pass-rushing grade by a Power Five true freshman in @PFF_College era (Since 2014, min. 150 snaps)
1. Myles Garrett – 92.1
𝟐. 𝐑𝐮𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐫. – 𝟖𝟗.𝟑
3. Harold Perkins – 87.6
4. Nick Bosa – 85.0
5. Dexter Lawrence – 83.1pic.twitter.com/HXmBxPiU5C
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 13, 2024
7. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss Rebels
Umanmielen is the second edge defender on this list who’ll be playing for a new team in 2024 after transferring from Florida to Ole Miss. This past season, the junior ranked fourth among Power Five edge defenders in pass-rush win rate (22.2%). His 42 run-defense stops since 2022 are tied for second among that same group.
He has an excellent understanding of when to use counter moves and has great bend at 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds. Umanmielen and Walter Nolen, an honorable mention nominee for interior defensive linemen, should be a nightmare for SEC offensive lines next season.
Princely Umanmielen was fourth among Power Five edge defenders this past season with a 22.2% pass-rush win rate.
Love his counter moves and bend. Ole Miss got a good one.pic.twitter.com/5Mw9tgLIND
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 13, 2024
8. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State Buckeyes
Tuimoloau and teammate Jack Sawyer share many things in common besides both playing for Ohio State. They each were top-five overall recruits in the 2021 high school class and both made the surprising decision to return to Columbus despite being projected as Day 2 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Sawyer places much higher on this list because he was more dependable this past season. Tuimoloau’s 74.5 grade only tied for 58th among Power Five edge defenders. The year before, though, he was among the 20 best Power Five edges in pass-rushing grade (83.0). At 270 pounds, Tuimoloau has the sheer strength to overpower tackles but also excellent agility for someone his size. He can single-handedly win games (2022 versus Penn State); he just needs to flash that dominance more consistently.
NFL evaluators want to see a player’s best against the best.
Ohio State edge JT Tuimoloau was excellent yesterday, including some critical pass rush reps against the best OL in college football Olu Fashanu — a top 5 pick in April.
Tuiomolau’s got serious power ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZkjQxuWIl3
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 22, 2023
9. Josaiah Stewart, Michigan Wolverines
After excelling as a pass rusher at Coastal Carolina for a couple of years, Stewart took his talents to Ann Arbor for the 2023 season. Despite playing only the fourth-most snaps among Michigan edges, he made his presence felt. His 17.1% pressure rate this past season ranked third among Big Ten edge defenders. He also became a much better run defender, earning an 84.9 grade in that aspect, which placed him fifth among Power Five edges.
Stewart doesn’t have great size (6-foot-1 and 245 pounds) but makes up for it with his explosiveness and ability to convert speed to power. Expect him to become more of a household name as a full-time starter next year.
Pretty excited to have Josaiah Stewart back next season 😤
pic.twitter.com/6YgAMbM2oK— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) January 15, 2024
10. Abdul Carter, Penn State Nittany Lions
A few years ago, Penn State’s defense featured a superstar in Micah Parsons. While he excelled as an off-ball linebacker in the Nittany Lions’ defense, it stands to reason that Penn State misplayed him in that role since he became one of the best edge defenders in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Nittany Lions clearly weren’t going to make that same mistake twice with the next player to wear the legendary No. 11 for their defense. After spending his first two years at linebacker, Carter is moving to edge for this upcoming season. His 24.1% pass-rush win rate in 2023 led all FBS linebackers with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps and would’ve placed him third among edge defenders.
Like Parsons, Carter has freakish movement ability at 250 pounds, which should translate immediately along the edge. While this is a projection, since he’s moving positions, this ranking could be laughably low by season’s end.
#PSU LB Abdul Carter had his first career interception against Illinois but there’s so much he does for the Nittany Lions defense that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.
He moves at a different speed than everyone else. His overall ability to disrupt plays is hard not to notice. pic.twitter.com/5Yaf8z7aIN
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 17, 2023
Honorable Mention: Aaron Lewis, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Lewis had a disappointing junior campaign relative to his 2022 season. His grade came in nearly 10 points lower than what he accomplished as a sophomore (75.9 in 2023 compared to 85.5 in 2022). That was mostly due to his 59.8 run-defense grade, as he was still an elite pass rusher.
His 91.5 pass-rushing grade since 2022 ranks 10th among all FBS edge defenders, and his 18.7% pass-rush win rate places 11th in the Power Five. He is also the third-most-valuable returning Power Five edge defender in that span, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. If he can improve in the run game, Lewis will join the top 10.
#Rutgers DL @aaron_lewis71 goes #speedtopower with the long arm & floors the OL en route to a strip sack.
Lewis gets the OL to turn his shoulders/kick sideways, then strikes the inside pec with his long arm when he redirects with power. It all starts with a #passrush plan! #GoRU pic.twitter.com/uRG0rPHjpt
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) March 27, 2022
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