2021 Season

2021 NFL Defense Rankings by College

Which colleges Produce the Most NFL Talent?

Season

Stats

Draft Class

Overall Conference

About this leaderboard

The 2021 defense rankings are a fixed snapshot of college-to-NFL defensive output for that NFL season.

They help when you need year-specific defense rankings rather than the live current-season table.

Note that older seasons track fewer box-score stats (QB hits and TFL arrive later), so treat cross-era defense comparisons carefully.

Browse the table to find programs that still show up year after year.

Fantasy Points Passing Rushing Receiving Kicking Punting Returning Scoring

How we rank · About this data

NFL Regular Season: 2021

Defense Rankings

			Tackles			Sacks			Interceptions
College	FP	TD	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TFL	QB HTS	PD	INT	YDS	TD	FR	Players
1Alabama Crimson Tide	2,719.25	4	1088	610	1698	40.5	68	106	113	34	355	4	13	48
2LSU Tigers	2,140.3	2	885	447	1332	33.5	78	85	85	15	168	2	13	48
3Ohio State Buckeyes	2,202.6	2	814	459	1273	65.5	110	147	95	16	281	2	11	43
4Washington Huskies	1,518.5	2	599	333	932	21.5	44	57	71	16	255	2	9	29
5Clemson Tigers	1,418	1	542	332	874	22.5	56	80	62	11	150	1	7	27
6Georgia Bulldogs	1,342.65	1	512	352	864	32.5	53	70	50	8	94	1	5	30
7UCLA Bruins	1,154.5	0	457	311	768	23	45	54	30	7	50	0	8	16
8Iowa Hawkeyes	1,085.85	2	428	260	688	11	33	35	40	13	106	1	10	31
9Florida Gators	1,113.25	1	449	236	685	31	46	56	45	6	65	0	3	28
10Miami Hurricanes	1,119.6	2	463	221	684	25.5	46	68	29	5	96	0	7	32
11Texas Longhorns	1,073.95	1	414	254	668	19.5	36	51	35	14	167	1	7	24
12Florida State Seminoles	1,138.45	1	433	220	653	28	50	61	61	12	177	1	2	24
13Notre Dame Fighting Irish	993.65	0	399	245	644	20	32	50	26	4	19	0	14	32
14Mississippi State Bulldogs	1,134.35	4	402	205	607	45.5	66	100	44	7	96	1	6	21
15Penn State Nittany Lions	954.1	0	367	189	556	29	44	71	31	10	76	0	5	23
16Michigan Wolverines	947.55	0	335	201	536	38.5	37	101	33	5	88	0	9	29
17Virginia Tech Hokies	879.35	1	370	158	528	3	30	5	57	7	36	1	10	15
18Stanford Cardinal	761	0	311	179	490	8.5	20	33	23	8	115	0	6	23
19Wisconsin Badgers	838.65	0	309	179	488	29.5	42	74	30	2	24	0	8	20
20Boston College Eagles	845.95	1	322	164	486	22.5	39	49	30	9	132	0	7	14
21Oregon Ducks	782.4	0	306	170	476	21.5	36	42	36	4	34	0	3	19
22Minnesota Golden Gophers	691.85	0	303	158	461	7	16	14	23	6	46	0	5	13
23Auburn Tigers	763.05	1	310	146	456	12	28	32	41	7	48	1	2	20
24USC Trojans	746.3	0	257	180	437	24.5	40	67	32	4	13	0	5	22
25Kentucky Wildcats	735.9	3	287	139	426	12.5	27	26	34	9	154	3	3	14
26Utah Utes	598.15	0	263	137	400	3	12	9	32	3	59	0	1	21
27Tennessee Volunteers	671.9	1	252	145	397	11.5	32	31	31	5	4	0	9	19
28BYU Cougars	640	2	242	146	388	6.5	22	15	34	4	110	2	8	12
29Temple Owls	610.5	0	233	148	381	20.5	26	42	22	2	15	0	3	21
30NC State Wolfpack	595.7	0	210	168	378	16.5	32	37	12	3	42	0	9	19
31Wyoming Cowboys	537.5	0	218	144	362	6	14	13	14	8	85	0	3	11
32Pittsburgh Panthers	618.45	0	244	117	361	14	34	31	34	4	27	0	1	16
33Utah State Aggies	505.2	1	198	161	359	6	12	11	15	3	52	1	3	8
34West Virginia Mountaineers	562.8	3	232	115	347	1	13	8	24	9	133	2	1	15
35Rutgers Scarlet Knights	535.95	0	221	120	341	10	14	20	25	5	22	0	2	13
36Maryland Terrapins	600.2	1	199	133	332	14.5	22	44	37	10	92	1	2	12
37Arkansas Razorbacks	534.15	1	200	118	318	16.5	21	37	20	1	39	1	6	16
38Virginia Cavaliers	460.9	0	197	113	310	0.5	8	4	27	4	39	0	1	11
39Missouri Tigers	525.5	1	178	128	306	21.5	37	55	9	0	0	0	6	13
39Purdue Boilermakers	472.75	1	206	100	306	3.5	11	10	24	3	45	1	0	8
41South Carolina Gamecocks	544.1	0	187	106	293	23	28	62	22	5	76	0	1	21
41Texas Tech Red Raiders	431.5	2	170	123	293	4	15	24	6	0	0	0	5	11
43Michigan State Spartans	444.25	0	177	98	275	15	23	29	10	2	0	0	3	15
44Houston Cougars	472.25	1	170	101	271	13	27	38	19	3	85	1	0	11
45Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	427.85	0	175	95	270	4	14	14	20	5	56	0	1	8
46North Carolina Tar Heels	443.9	1	173	96	269	19.5	21	24	11	2	54	1	2	11
46Vanderbilt Commodores	429	0	177	92	269	5.5	20	17	20	1	0	0	3	11
46Northwestern Wildcats	396.5	0	168	101	269	6	11	15	16	0	0	0	2	9
49Ole Miss Rebels	431.75	1	181	85	266	6	23	13	13	3	80	1	1	18
50Texas A&M Aggies	490.75	1	154	96	250	30	45	60	10	0	0	0	6	19
51Delaware Blue Hens	368.2	0	145	102	247	5.5	14	15	12	2	2	0	3	4
52South Carolina State Bulldogs	374.45	0	142	94	236	7.5	14	21	13	4	12	0	3	4
53Nebraska Cornhuskers	411.2	0	152	79	231	16.5	27	41	6	2	12	0	5	15
54Baylor Bears	380.6	2	142	84	226	4.5	4	6	22	7	56	1	4	12
55Illinois Fighting Illini	351.4	0	123	101	224	14	20	33	7	1	9	0	1	11
56Florida Atlantic Owls	378.45	0	138	72	210	16	23	30	12	3	37	0	3	9
57Memphis Tigers	336.05	2	135	69	204	3	10	12	12	4	63	1	1	9
57UCF Knights	333.25	1	156	48	204	0.5	4	6	21	1	0	0	2	11
59Kansas State Wildcats	326.65	0	152	48	200	3	3	5	20	3	9	0	2	10
60California Golden Bears	358.85	0	133	65	198	14	15	25	15	5	56	0	2	15
61Oklahoma Sooners	320.5	0	133	61	194	7.5	14	13	11	1	0	0	5	26
62Yale Bulldogs	262	0	102	90	192	2	4	7	6	3	80	0	0	1
63Oregon State Beavers	319.85	1	125	51	176	5	10	6	18	6	91	0	2	10
64TCU Horned Frogs	295.9	0	111	63	174	5	6	20	15	2	54	0	4	17
65Boise State Broncos	298.2	1	115	58	173	4.5	11	13	11	2	47	1	5	14
66Washington State Cougars	280.9	0	111	61	172	3.5	13	9	8	3	49	0	4	4
67Colorado Buffaloes	310.95	0	124	45	169	0	7	2	29	5	87	0	2	10
68Connecticut Huskies	251.95	0	103	63	166	0	6	10	16	1	17	0	0	5
69Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	298.6	2	111	54	165	1	3	4	23	7	66	1	1	4
70Samford Bulldogs	274.4	0	105	55	160	3.5	12	7	19	4	19	0	1	4
71Ferris State Bulldogs	241.05	1	87	71	158	3	9	8	7	2	48	1	2	4
71Southern Illinois Salukis	238.75	0	107	51	158	2	8	8	8	1	0	0	1	3
73Wake Forest Demon Deacons	236.75	0	111	46	157	2.5	7	5	4	1	65	0	1	8
74Duke Blue Devils	243.25	0	94	62	156	2	6	8	15	0	0	0	4	13
75Oklahoma State Cowboys	293.1	0	104	48	152	10	11	26	19	1	1	0	5	12
76Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns	216	0	94	54	148	1	6	6	6	1	5	0	2	6
77Syracuse Orange	284.3	0	99	48	147	11.5	18	29	12	1	8	0	4	8
78Montana State Bobcats	192.4	1	81	56	137	0	4	2	4	1	29	1	1	1
79Rice Owls	189.5	0	85	42	127	2	8	2	6	0	0	0	2	6
80Charlotte 49ers	227.75	0	76	48	124	13	27	31	0	0	0	0	0	3
80Arizona Wildcats	167.25	0	75	49	124	1	6	3	2	0	0	0	1	7
82Arkansas State Red Wolves	178.75	0	73	37	110	3	13	10	7	0	0	0	0	3
82Murray State Racers	163.25	0	73	37	110	2	9	4	5	0	0	0	0	1
84Eastern Illinois Panthers	174.95	0	71	37	108	3	13	5	3	1	82	0	0	1
85Marshall Thundering Herd	145.5	0	73	34	107	0	2	1	4	0	0	0	0	4
86Valdosta State Blazers	190.05	0	82	20	102	1	6	1	13	4	78	0	0	1
87UTEP Miners	185.55	1	74	27	101	4	5	11	7	2	28	1	2	4
87SMU Mustangs	139.75	0	60	41	101	0	4	1	4	0	0	0	2	6
89Northern Illinois Huskies	155.2	1	70	30	100	0	2	0	6	2	27	1	0	5
90San Diego State Aztecs	147.8	0	68	28	96	1	3	1	7	2	8	0	0	6
91Central Michigan Chippewas	123.5	0	63	30	93	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	5
92Kansas Jayhawks	164.5	1	63	29	92	5	4	14	7	1	0	0	1	5
92Lenoir-Rhyne Bears	163.5	0	70	22	92	0	5	2	5	4	100	0	1	1
94UAB Blazers	146.25	0	71	20	91	0	4	1	9	0	0	0	1	3
95Central Arkansas Bears	156.2	1	72	18	90	0	0	1	6	2	22	0	3	3
96Weber State Wildcats	127.9	0	54	27	81	3	4	3	7	1	4	0	0	2
97Buffalo Bulls	131.5	0	45	30	75	8	11	12	1	0	0	0	2	6
98California (PA)	115.5	0	53	21	74	0.5	3	2	8	0	0	0	0	2
98Fresno State Bulldogs	115.1	1	35	39	74	0	3	1	4	1	66	1	2	6
100Coastal Carolina Chanticleers	121.5	0	53	20	73	1	5	1	5	1	40	0	1	3
100Western Michigan Broncos	97.5	0	41	32	73	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	7
100Cincinnati Bearcats	93.2	0	34	39	73	0	2	2	1	1	7	0	1	9
103James Madison Dukes	90.25	0	38	33	71	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	1	3
104Regina (Canada)	121	1	50	15	65	3.5	5	9	4	0	0	0	1	2
104Arizona State Sun Devils	96	0	39	26	65	1.5	2	5	0	0	0	0	3	7
106Tulsa Golden Hurricane	110.75	0	36	28	64	7	8	7	5	0	0	0	1	2
106Appalachian State Mountaineers	97.75	0	38	26	64	1	4	4	3	0	0	0	2	4
108North Dakota State Bison	76.25	0	29	34	63	2	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	5
109Ohio Bobcats	104	0	42	20	62	3.5	3	11	1	0	0	0	2	2
109Illinois State Redbirds	100.5	0	33	29	62	6	7	11	2	0	0	0	0	4
111East Carolina Pirates	77.25	0	33	28	61	1	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
112Eastern Michigan Eagles	143.75	0	38	22	60	8.5	14	32	7	0	0	0	0	2
112Grand Valley State Lakers	133.25	0	38	22	60	12.5	14	25	1	0	0	0	1	1
114Georgia Southern Eagles	93	0	43	16	59	2	2	2	4	0	0	0	1	6
114Tulane Green Wave	89.5	0	42	17	59	1.5	2	5	1	0	0	0	1	7
114Idaho Vandals	84	0	29	30	59	2	4	5	0	0	0	0	2	5
117Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves	77	0	27	30	57	1.5	2	7	0	0	0	0	1	3
118Army Black Knights	78	0	34	22	56	1	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	3
119North Alabama Lions	82.5	0	38	16	54	0	0	0	6	1	0	0	0	1
120Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles	84.35	0	26	27	53	1	7	4	3	1	1	0	1	4
121Colorado State Rams	124.05	0	38	14	52	10	9	22	4	1	3	0	1	2
121UMass Minutemen	94.65	0	41	11	52	0	1	0	7	3	24	0	0	3
123Louisville Cardinals	93.5	0	29	22	51	3	5	7	3	1	30	0	2	7
123Eastern Washington Eagles	88	0	31	20	51	4.5	5	11	1	0	0	0	1	4
123William & Mary Tribe	85	1	33	18	51	0	0	0	4	1	0	0	2	1
126Indiana State Sycamores	64.75	0	24	25	49	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	1	2
127UT San Antonio Roadrunners	94	0	27	19	46	9	9	16	0	0	0	0	1	3
127Nevada Wolf Pack	78	0	27	19	46	5	3	8	2	0	0	0	1	2
127Albany State Golden Rams	63.75	0	23	23	46	1	2	5	2	0	0	0	0	1
130Iowa State Cyclones	95.45	2	35	8	43	0	4	1	5	1	12	0	2	8
131Georgia State Panthers	74.65	0	31	11	42	0	2	0	4	3	14	0	0	2
132Troy Trojans	85.75	0	27	13	40	7.5	9	12	1	1	0	0	0	2
132South Florida Bulls	66.25	0	24	16	40	2.5	3	5	4	0	0	0	0	4
132Old Dominion Monarchs	61.25	0	19	21	40	1	1	3	5	0	0	0	1	6
132Pennsylvania Quakers	58.5	0	24	16	40	0	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	2
136Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	69.5	0	29	10	39	3	6	8	0	0	0	0	0	6
137Lindenwood Lions	67.25	0	33	5	38	0	0	1	4	2	0	0	0	2
138Southeastern Louisiana Lions	63.8	0	30	7	37	0	1	0	4	1	23	0	0	1
139Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks	74.45	0	17	18	35	6	6	14	1	1	32	0	0	1
139Missouri Southern State Lions	51.75	0	15	20	35	0	4	1	3	0	0	0	1	1
141Manitoba Bisons	52	0	12	22	34	2	2	10	0	0	0	0	1	1
142Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors	51.5	1	19	13	32	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	4
143Tarleton Texans	54.25	2	23	8	31	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
144South Alabama Jaguars	41.25	0	21	9	30	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
144San Jose State Spartans	41	0	23	7	30	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
146Chattanooga Mocs	47.7	0	17	12	29	1	1	1	3	1	17	0	0	5
146Missouri S&T Miners	40.25	0	13	16	29	2	0	2	1	1	0	0	0	1
146Wagner Seahawks	40.25	0	17	12	29	1.5	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	3
149Toledo Rockets	52.25	0	18	10	28	2.5	2	8	1	0	0	0	1	6
149Texas State Bobcats	45.5	0	20	8	28	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	2
149Fort Hays State Tigers	41.75	0	17	11	28	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	1
152Villanova Wildcats	50.75	0	18	6	24	4	3	8	2	0	0	0	0	2
153Sioux Falls	36	0	14	9	23	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	1	1
153Florida Intl Golden Panthers	33.5	0	13	10	23	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	3
153Jacksonville State Gamecocks	32.25	0	16	7	23	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
156Southern Jaguars	30.5	0	15	6	21	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1
157Missouri Western Griffons	29.45	0	10	8	18	0	0	0	1	1	7	0	1	1
157Norfolk State Spartans	27.75	0	12	6	18	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1
157Albany Great Danes	25.75	0	14	4	18	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
157Wayne State (MI) Warriors	23	0	9	9	18	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
161Malone Pioneers	36.75	1	12	5	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
162Missouri State Bears	23.5	0	10	6	16	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
163Akron Zips	25.5	1	11	4	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
163Liberty Flames	23	0	8	7	15	1.5	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1
163Cal Poly Mustangs	15.75	0	6	9	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
166Northern Iowa Panthers	20.75	0	7	7	14	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	6
166Eastern Kentucky Colonels	18.5	0	8	6	14	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
168Western Carolina Catamounts	22	0	8	5	13	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
168Southern Utah Thunderbirds	17.75	0	9	4	13	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
170Youngstown State Penguins	20.25	0	9	3	12	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
170Saginaw Valley Cardinals	19.75	0	10	2	12	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
170Presbyterian College Blue Hose	17.5	0	9	3	12	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
170Tennessee State Tigers	17.5	0	9	3	12	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
170Midwestern State Mustangs	16	0	7	5	12	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
175North Texas Mean Green	22.5	0	7	4	11	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	2	3
175Sam Houston Bearkats	22	0	6	5	11	1.5	3	4	0	0	0	0	0	1
175Stony Brook Seawolves	17.25	0	8	3	11	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
178Virginia State Trojans	12.75	0	8	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
179Indiana Hoosiers	15.75	0	5	3	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5
179Houston Baptist Huskies	12	0	4	4	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
179West Georgia Wolves	10.5	0	6	2	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
179Western Illinois Leathernecks	7.5	0	2	6	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
183North Carolina A&T Aggies	10.5	0	3	4	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
183Brown Bears	9.75	0	6	1	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
183Concordia College (MN)	8.25	0	4	3	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
183Bemidji State Beavers	7.5	0	3	4	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
187Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	12	0	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
187Southeast Missouri State Redhawks	9	0	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
187Towson Tigers	8.25	0	5	1	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
190Harvard Crimson	12	0	3	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
190Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks	10.5	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
190Assumption Greyhounds	7.5	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
190Prairie View Panthers	7.5	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
190North Carolina Central Eagles	6.75	0	4	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
195UNLV Rebels	8	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
195New Mexico Lobos	5.25	0	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
195Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions	5.25	0	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
195Marist Red Foxes	5.25	0	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
195Northern Colorado Bears	4.5	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
200South Dakota State Jackrabbits	7.5	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
200Beloit Buccaneers	4.5	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
200Bucknell Bison	3.75	0	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
203San Diego Toreros	15	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
203Sacramento State Hornets	9	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203The Citadel Bulldogs	8.25	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
203Bowling Green Falcons	6	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
203Charleston (WV) Golden Eagles	4.25	0	2	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Drake Bulldogs	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Duquesne Dukes	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203West Alabama Tigers	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Western Washington	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Princeton Tigers	2.25	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Hobart Statesmen	2.25	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Air Force Falcons	2.25	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203Fordham Rams	2.25	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
203UL Monroe Warhawks	2.25	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
218South Dakota Coyotes	4.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
218Miami (OH) RedHawks	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Azusa Pacific	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Bloomsburg Huskies	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Dayton Flyers	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218East Central Tigers	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Kutztown Golden Bears	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Monmouth Hawks	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Navy Midshipmen	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218West Texas A&M Buffaloes	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Grambling State Tigers	1.5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Augustana University (SD) Vikings	0.75	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Austin Peay Governors	0.75	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218Newberry Wolves	0.75	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
218McKendree Bearcats	0.75	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
233Cornell Big Red	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
233Minnesota State Mavericks	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1