Georgia tops Ohio State, Michigan for best college football front-seven room entering 2024 season

It wasn’t long ago that Joe Burrow (LSU, 2019) and Mac Jones (Alabama, 2020) were torching everyone in their paths with high-flying offensive attacks that were seemingly ushering in a new era in college football. Over the past three seasons, however, the defense has returned.

Georgia won national championships in 2021 and 2022 with a stifling defense, and Michigan did the same during its undefeated 2023 campaign. As the 2024 season approaches, it appears Ohio State is trying to remake itself in the mold of those Bulldogs and Wolverines.

With the retention of several draft-eligible defensive stars, the Buckeyes are preparing to have their best unit under third-year coordinator Jim Knowles, who has already done a good job since arriving from Oklahoma State in 2022. Getting more physical was a challenge. point of emphasis for Ohio State last season, and that quest continues as coach Ryan Day enters a critical seventh season.

Is Ohio State’s defensive front seven the best in the country? It could be until the end of the season. For now, though, the benefit of the doubt goes to the two programs that have proven their dominance in that domain most recently.

Here’s our look at the best front sevens in the country heading into the 2024 campaign.

1. Georgia

It’s business as usual for Georgia’s defense under head coach Kirby Smart, which means the Bulldogs will be a problem for everyone up front. Mykel Williams is a potential first-round draft pick after two productive years on the edge. Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson have adopted the journeyman approach at defensive tackle, but they are also destined for a NFL payday once they complete their fifth season as gigans.

The Bulldogs are arguably even more loaded at linebacker with the likes of Chaz Chambliss, Smael Mondon Jr. and C.J. Allen, who started five games as a true freshman last season after ranking as a top-50 prospect nationally. He will have at least two more seasons to make his mark in the SEC.

2. Michigan

Michigan saw a program record 13 players signed in the NFL Draft, but the Wolverines remain well-stocked on their defensive front as Sherrone Moore takes over for Jim Harbaugh. Mason Graham is already getting first-round buzz after terrorizing opponents from his second-year defensive tackle position in 2023. Between Graham and fellow junior Kenneth Grant — an all-conference returning performer — opening holes against the Wolverines will be almost impossible.

Behind them, Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham could be one of the most important additions to the roster from his linebacker position after earning All-Big Ten honorable mention as a sophomore. He will combine with productive players like Ernest Hausmann, Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore to complete an experienced and intimidating front.

3. Ohio State

Ohio State returns a collection of top talent from a defense that only allowed more than 17 points once last season. The headliner is defensive end JT Tuimoloau, a two-time All-Big Ten player and potential first-round draft pick. On the other flank of the line is fellow senior and all-conference performer Jack Sawyer. In the middle is the gigantic chaos-wrecker Tyleik Williams. Any of the three could have declared for the NFL Draft, but they all came back to give the Buckeyes one of the nastiest frontcourts in the sport.

Leading tacklers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg have left the linebacker room, but plenty of talent remains. If junior linebacker C.J. Hicks can reach the potential that has made him the nation’s No. 10 prospect in the 2022 class, it will only add to the ferocity of this defensive front.

Defensive tackle Howard Cross III is back for his sixth season and will anchor the defensive line. Cross finished second on the team in tackles with 66 last season as an undersized bully. The potential All-American is surrounded by other veterans, including productive fifth-year players Jordan Botelho and Rylie Mills on the defensive line. Speaking of experience, middle linebacker Jack Kizer opted to return for his sixth season. These four alone bring a combined 18 seasons of experience into the 2024 season. If former four-star linebackers Jaylen Sneed and Drayk Bowen are ready for bigger roles, Notre Dame’s defensive front will be one of the program’s best in the recent memory.

Utah must replace top server Jonah Elliss, but has enough talent to handle it by committee. Leading tackler Levani Damuni is back at linebacker alongside all-conference performer Karene Reid. Up front, Junior Tafuna is ready to attack for the fourth consecutive all-conference season. Sophomores Logan Fano and Keanu Tanuvasa could be ready to stake their claim as Utah’s next great defensive backs. The Utes have also made an impact because of their consistency as coaches, as the program enters Year 20 under head coach Kyle Whittingham and Year 9 under defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley. Under their direction, it’s always a safe bet to believe in the Utes’ top seven.

Honorable mention

• Clemson (LB Barrett Carter, DL Peter Woods, DE TJ Parker)
• Penn State (DE Abdul Carter, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, LB Kobe King)
• Texas (EDGE Trey Moore, DL Alfred Collins, EDGE Ethan Burke)
• Iowa (LB Jay Higgins, LB Nick Jackson, DL Yahya Black)
• Alabama (DL Tim Keenan III, LB Deontae Lawson, LB Jihaad Campbell)