The goal of any College Football Program is to build a program that can compete for a National Championship year in and year out. With this building one position that is often overlooked upon while not getting enough recognition year in and year out is the defensive tackle position. In a day of fantasy sports, instant access to statistical game by game performances around football statistics such as tackles and interceptions, and glory to specific positions, the defensive tackle position is overshadowed. However, some of the best football programs in the country have stellar defensive lines built around their defensive tackles. Each of these 10 College Football players landing on the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings rank among the best in the game.

One of those players that often gets looked past among the best defensive College Football players in 2022 is Jalen Carter of the Georgia Bulldogs.

That said Carter took home his second National Championship to start January 2023, while also expected to be one of the top draft picks during the 2023 NFL Draft. His play on the field has landed him multiple awards while also helping the Bulldogs to rank among the best defenses in College Football.

Also joining Carter on the list of the Top Defensive Tackles in College Football includes Zacch Pickens from the South Carolina Gamecocks, Bryan Bresee of the Clemson Tigers, and Mazi Smith of the Michigan Wolverines. Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings.

Honorable Mention

Ruke Orhorhoro

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: Returning to Clemson Tigers for 2023

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings list is the Clemson Tigers Ruke Orhorhoro.

Orhorhoro, who announced earlier this month he would be returning for his senior season was expected to be one of the top defensive tackles on NFL draft boards during the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Nonetheless, the Tigers standout defensive tackle was solid during the 2022 NCAA Football schedule posting 23 tackles to go along with four sacks, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery.

Brodric Martin

School: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

One name that often gets overlooked among the best defensive tackles in College Football is Brodric Martin of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Martin, who plays for a lesser-known school showcased his ability to be a stud on the defensive line posting 23 tackles this past season to go along with 22 pressures, two sacks and 15 stops. 

Martin is a big strong defender with tremendous upper body strength and strong hands helping him to be a stud up front on the Hilltoppers defense.

Top 10 Best Defensive Tackles in College Football

10. Jaquelin Roy

School: LSU Tigers

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

Landing at number 10 on the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings list is the LSU Tigers junior defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy. Roy has improved each year since arriving with the LSU Tigers in 2018.

In 2022, Roy posted a career high 49 tackles to go along with .5 sack, and one fumble recovery. While the flashy stats are not present, Roy does a lot of great things including penetrating through the offensive line, getting his hands up to knock down passes, and commands a double team freeing up plays for his teammates.

9. Keeanu Benton

School: Wisconsin Badgers

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

The Wisconsin Badgers are known for being a big strong aggressive team on both sides of the ball including up front on their defensive line.

One of those stars up front for the Badgers over the 2022 NCAA Football season was standout senior Nose Tackle Keeanu Benton.

Benton is coming off 4.5 sacks in his senior season while elevating his potential overall draft status.

To go along with the sacks Benton posted a career high 36 tackles and two passes defended. The Badgers defensive star is strong and powerful helping him get into the backfield to make plays.

8. Byron Young

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

The Alabama Crimson Tide has had a long history of producing stud players on both sides of the football including on the defensive side of the ball.

While Byron Young teammate Will Anderson Jr will get most of the attention over the next couple months leading into the NFL Draft, Young is a key factor in the success that takes place behind him.

Young finished his senior season posting career highs with 47 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defended.

The Crimson Tide standout defensive star showcased his ability to get after the quarterback, posting 25 quarterback pressures and seven quarterback hits to go along with his 3.5 sacks. 

7. Calijah Kancey

School: Pitt Panthers

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

When it comes to a standout playmaker at the defensive tackle position look no further than Calijah Kancey from the Pitt Panthers.

Kancey who has been a stud since arriving with the Panthers back in 2018 has racked up back-to-back seven sack seasons while also posting at least 31 tackles in each of the past two seasons.

Kancey is a force on the defensive line that was nearly unmatchable by opposing offensive lines during the 2022 NCAA Football season.

In addition, the Panthers defensive tackle uses his athletic ability to get through gaps, and position himself in place to make a play.

6. Tyler Davis

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: Returning to Clemson Tigers for 2023

One name that was expected to be heard announced during the 2023 NFL Draft was Tyler Davis of the Clemson Tigers.

However, Davis has elected to return to the Tigers in 2023 while potentially helping him move up near the top 1-2 defensive tackles during the 2023 NCAA Football season.

The Tigers star defensive lineman is coming off 32 tackles as a senior while also posting 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defended. Since arriving with the Tigers Davis has earned two First-Team All-ACC selections including during the 2022 season.

5. Siaki Ika

School: Baylor Bears

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

Rounding out the top five on the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings list is the Baylor Bears Siaki Ika. Like many defensive linemen Ika gets overlooked based on the statistics he put together during his junior season with the Bears.

However, from the film side of the game Ika is as good as any defensive tackle in college football while being a force while opening up holes for his linebackers to make plays.

Ika finished the season with 23 tackles to go along with 15 quarterback hurries while finding his way to the backfield consistently. Only thing holding Ika back from a fan’s perspective is his lack of sacks which will come at the next level.

4. Mazi Smith

School: Michigan Wolverines

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

The Michigan Wolverines finished the 2022 NCAA Football season ranked among the best defensive teams in college football while having a long list of standouts.

One of those standouts is senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith who is expected to be a high draft pick during the 2023 NFL Draft.

Smith put together his best season of his College Football career in 2022 racking up a career high 49 tackles to go along with one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In addition to those numbers Smith racked up 30 stops, 17 quarterback hurries and 23 total pressures across the 2022 football season.

3. Bryan Bresee

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

When you consistently rank among the best College Football programs year in and year out, expectations are set high for high caliber talent to come from your program.

That is the case with the Clemson Tigers who have multiple standouts on the defensive line alone including Bryan Bresee.

While Bresee had the opportunity to join Tyler Davis in returning to the Tigers next season, the standout elected to enter the NFL draft.

In 2022, the Maryland Native Bresee posted 15 tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks and one pass defended while anchoring a good portion of the Tigers defensive line.

2. Zacch Pickens

School: South Carolina Gamecocks

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

After electing to skip the 2022 NFL Draft, senior defensive tackle Zacch Pickens returned for his senior season with the South Carolina Gamecocks while solidifying his status among the best defensive tackles in the game.

Now Pickens along with Bryan Bresee and Jalen Carter are all expected to be highly coveted during the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Pickens finished the season with a career high 42 tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks, three passes defended, and one fumble recovery.

Pickens is fast, strong, and has enough burst to pursue quarterbacks while also showcasing his ability to get through the offensive line to make plays in the backfield.

1. Jalen Carter

School: Georgia Bulldogs

NFL Draft Status: 2023 NFL Draft

In the end only one player can land at the top spot on the Top 10 College Football Defensive Tackles 2023 Rankings and that player is Jalen Carter of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Carter, who finished the season with 32 tackles to go along with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes defended, was forced on the defensive line while forcing opposing offenses to use double teams against him.

His presence, strength, and athleticism helped him open up holes among the opposing offensive lines while his teammates could make plays.

Despite missing five games in 2022, Carter still managed to boost 25 pressures, 17 quarterback hurries and five quarterback hits over just 10 games.

How would you rank the Best College Defensive Tackles in the 2022-2023 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings

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