The best defensive players in college football for the 2021 season

It was quite the special freshman season for Anderson in 2020. He ranked among the Crimson Tide leaders with 52 tackles, was second with seven sacks, and posted a team-high 10 1/2 tackles for loss. One can only imagine what Anderson will be able to accomplish with that year of experience under his belt in 2021. There are plenty of talented individuals on Alabama's defense, but Anderson might be the best of the bunch.

Prior to the 2020 season, Shaun Wade was the Ohio State defensive back earning a bulk of the attention. However, as the season went on, Banks continued to make a name for himself. Now, the senior might be a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He recorded 23 tackles with an interception in eight games last season while also defending seven passes. Banks now heads into the 2021 season as a potential Thorpe Award candidate.

One of the most explosive rush linebackers in the nation. Bonitto is a big reason Oklahoma improved from allowing 27.3 points per game in 2019 to 21.7 last season. Bonitto recorded 75 tackles over the last two seasons, and in 2020, posted 10 1/2 for loss plus eight sacks. It's possible the Sooners defense will continue to progress, and Bonitto is likely to be in the middle of the process.

Of course, there would be a Clemson defensive lineman on this list. Star interior defenders seem to grow on trees there. Bresee was tabbed ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 when he recorded 23 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, and four sacks for the Tigers. He even forced a fumble and broke up two passes. One can only imagine what's in store for Bresee this season after achieving that type of success right out of the gate.  

At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, Davis is a load. While his numbers might not be eye-catching from his first three seasons at Georgia (five career sacks, seven tackles for loss, 59 total tackles), his presence alone on the defensive front is enough for opponents to run in another direction. It's quite possible, however, that the best is yet to come for Davis in 2021 -- as the Bulldogs are filled with high expectations and hopes of College Football Playoff glory.

Elam has five interceptions over two seasons with the Gators and is one of the top overall cover corners in the nation. He's also above-average when it comes to playing the run in the open field. At 6-foot-2, Elam has the size to excel at this level, and likely on the next. A junior, it will be interesting to see if Elam will be playing his last season at Gainesville, especially he enjoys personal success in 2021.

Better known as "Sauce." Gardner was named an All-American second-teamer by The Associated Press last season as a key leader of Cincinnati's defense that allowed an average of 16.8 points. He was second on the team with three interceptions and six passes defended, to go along with 28 total tackles. Gardner is a brash talent and plays with plenty of confidence. This is probably why he's a favorite among the Bearcats' faithful.

The Buckeyes received a big boost when Garrett announced this winter that he would return and wait on the NFL. It's been quite the collegiate career for the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Garrett, who was shot in the face while breaking up a fight prior to the 2020 season. However, he overcame that situation to record a career-high 20 tackles with two sacks for Ohio State last season and pout himself into contention for the Outland Trophy in 2021. 

It can be argued that Hamilton might be the most athletic of anybody on the current Irish roster. An AP first-team All-American in 2020, Hamilton led Notre Dame with 63 total tackles, including 51 solos. He had one of the Irish's seven interceptions on the season, recorded 4 1/2 tackles for loss while being credited with six passes defended, and being named a Bednarik Award semifinalist. When it comes to safeties around the country, they don't get much better than Hamilton.

We talked about Will Anderson, but the Crimson Tide has another elite linebacker in Harris. In 2020, Harris ranked second on the team with 79 tackles and also record seven for loss. His 4 1/2 sacks were also among the most in the season. Harris is one of the more versatile linebackers in the nation, owning the ability to play the run at a high rate while also providing above-average skills in coverage.

The Wolverines allowed an average of 34.5 points in 2020, perhaps because Hutchinson was limited to just three games due to an ankle injury. However, he appears set to return to the field and ready for a strong senior season. There's excitement for a rebound from that severely dismal 2-4 campaign of 2020, and if Hutchinson is healthy and playing at a high level like in 2019 (68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks), that could very well happen.

One of the most physical cornerbacks in the country at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds. Jobe recorded 55 tackles last season, his third at Alabama, and also ranked second on the team with 11 passes defended. While Patrick Surtain II drew a lot of attention and praise for the Crimson Tide over the past few seasons, Jobe was quietly building himself into one of the best defensive backs in the nation. There's much to like about his game.

There is plenty of hype surrounding Joseph this season. Is it fair to say more so than any other defensive player around the country? Northwestern is also starting to become a defensive back factory with Greg Newsome a first-round NFL pick in 2021 and Joseph earning first-team All-American honors from The Associated Press. Last season, Joseph ranked fourth on the team with 52 tackles and tied for the national lead with six interceptions. Did we mention he's only a sophomore in status?

COVID-19 issues limited Karlaftis to just three games in 2020. However, during that brief time on the field, he recorded two sacks. Like Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, Karlaftis has some high expectations for a rebound in 2021. The talent is certainly there for that to happen, especially after the native of Greece posted 54 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks during a special freshman season from 2019. With things poised to resemble a more normal college football season in '21, Karlasftis is worth watching.

Leal continues to progress during his time at Texas A&M and has blossomed into one of the top front-seven players in the nation. In 10 games last season, Leal led the Aggies with eight quarterback hurries, recorded 2 1/2 sacks and 37 tackles (seven for loss). There's plenty of evidence to believe that Leal will continue to get better, and could garner even more attention for the talented Aggies seriously contend for an SEC title in 2021.  

For the past two seasons, Lloyd has been a budding star on the national scene while totaling 81 tackles, 21 for loss, and 8 1/2 sacks. However, to the casual college football fan, Lloyd still might not be a familiar name. And, it did not help that the Utes played just five games in 2020. Perhaps a full season and success of the overall program will change that, allowing Lloyd to be known beyond the realm of college football analysts and media types.

Named to the Butkus Award watch list, McFadden might be the best linebacker in the Big Ten. He enters his senior season having recorded 119 tackles -- 20 1/2 for loss -- over the last two years. In 2020, he posted a career-high six sacks in eight games and also picked off two passes. The Hoosiers' offense earned plenty of praise with Michael Penix Jr. and Ty Fryfogle, but the defense held three 2020 opponents to 11 or fewer points and pitched a shutout. 

In 2020, Morgan's 111 total tackles ranked third in the nation. His 12.3 tackles per game average were the best in the country. So, it's understandable how excited the Razorbacks were to have Morgan come back for a fifth season. Morgan recorded 7 1/2 of those tackles for loss and had two sacks to go along as well. It will be interesting to see how well Morgan performs at the next level, but for the time being, he'll try to help Arkansas to its first winning season since 2016.

Another standout for the Hoosiers, Mullen was named the program's Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. A physical corner already, Mullen bulked up for the 2020 season and now checks in at 180 pounds. We'll see if that pays off further from last season when Mullen ranked among the team leaders with 38 total tackles, 4 1/2 for loss, and an impressive 3 1/2 sacks. He also intercepted three passes. leading many pundits to expect big things from Mullen in 2021.

We mentioned how good Bryan Bresee was as a freshman, but his teammate Murphy also made quite the first impression for the Tigers in 2020. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Murphy earned co-ACC Newcomer of the Year (by The Associated Press) honors last season when he finished with 41 tackles and a team-high 12 for loss. Murphy also considered one of the nicest guys in college football, recorded four sacks and forced three fumbles.

Rose could push the aforementioned Nik Bonitto for the title of Big 12's best defensive player this season. A second-team AP All-American from 2020, Rose has a motor that runs high and loud. The phrase "plays like his hair is on fire" would be fitting to describe Rose. The Cyclones have some real talent on the defensive side of the ball, but Rose leads the way. In three seasons at Iowa State, he's totaled 248 tackles (134 solo), 29 for loss, and recorded 6 1/2 sacks. He's also intercepted six passes, five of which came in 2020.

As mentioned, Cincinnati boasted one of the nation's top defenses in 2020. Sanders had plenty to do with that fact. He led the team with seven sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss and had a major hand keeping opposing rushers to 3.2 yards per carry. Over the last two seasons, Sanders recorded 11 sacks while blossoming into the nation's most potent pass rushers. We'll see if he's capable of being even better in 2021.

A good share of college football pundits like Stingley for such major awards as the Thorpe and Bednarik. There's obviously a long time until that hardware is presented, but Stingley is no doubt among the elite defenders in the nation. He didn't have much to boast about during LSU's rough 5-5 season from 2020, but the Tigers are expected to be rebound, and Stingley (65 career tackles in two seasons; six interceptions in 2019) should be a big reason. 

Like Derek Stingley, Thibodeaux could be a top-10 pick in next season's NFL Draft. Thibodeaux can do it all. And, at 6-5, 250 pounds has the frame and physical capability to be a star at the next level, too. In two seasons with the Ducks, Thibodeaux has totaled 12 sacks and 23 1/2 tackles for loss. In addition to his overall physical strength, Thibodeaux also has the speed of a skill player. If there's one athlete to make a point of watching this season, it's this particular Duck.

If it seems like Turner has been dropping opposing receivers and running backs forever at Clemson, one would not entirely be wrong. Turner enters his fifth season with the Tigers and will go down as one of the more dedicated and consistent performers in the history of the program. For his collegiate career, Turner has recorded 146 tackles (104 solo), 11 1/2 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 19 passes defended.