Alabama headlines Lindy’s top-ranked D-lines

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) attempts to tackle Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lindy’s ranks its top defensive lines for the upcoming season. After entering last year as the No. 2 ranked unit behind Ohio State, the Crimson Tide once again tops our list of standout D-lines.

1. ALABAMA: Losing a pair of defensive linemen to the second round of the NFL Draft is about as much a bother to Nick Saban as a bit of fuzz on his crimson golf shift. Brush it off and move on. He and his staff already have done the hard work, bringing in copious five-star talent — and not all of it leaves early. Senior Jonathan Allen is a potential first-rounder, and he’s joined by senior Dalvin Tomlinson and soon-to-be stars Da’Ron Payne and Da’Shawn Hand.
2. MICHIGAN: This group has best-in-the-country potential, led by 6-5, 303-pound fifth-year senior Chris Wormley, who has the size to line up anywhere on the line and be a dominant force. Interior guys Bryan Mone and Ryan Glasgow are back from injury and ready to roll. Keep an eye on mega-recruit Rashan Gary in his true freshman campaign.
3. FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles ranked ninth in scoring defense last season, and when defensive end DeMarcus Walker announced he was coming back as a senior, another such ranking was pretty much a lock. Walker (10.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles) joins forces with scratching-the-surface sophomore Josh Sweat at defensive end, with Derrick Nnadi helping with the grunt work inside.
4. UTAH: The Utes were sixth nationally in rush defense and 16th in sacks last season, and they will be all of that again in 2016. Defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei is our Pac-12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while end Hunter Dimick is back after an injury-plagued season to fully combine forces with opposite end Kylie Fitts.
5. MICHIGAN STATE: Think the Spartans duo of tackle Malik McDowell and end Demetrius Cooper plans to remain in the shadow of Michigan’s defensive line? Heck no. Many believe McDowell is better right now than Shilique Calhoun was. Cooper has a shot to be one of the most improved players in the Big Ten.
6. TCU: All-Big 12 end Josh Carraway is joined by the team’s 2014 sack leader James McFarland, who missed last season because of injury. Now, the Horned Frogs have the best-case scenario — two hard-to-block ends, with a solid Aaron Curry on the interior.
7. FLORIDA: Caleb Brantley is the best D-lineman in the country — hey, that’s what he said this spring — and it’s a reasonable enough statement to not fight him on it. Defensive ends Bryan Cox Jr and sophomore CeCe Jefferson, a former five-star recruit, are special, too, for an always-good defense.
8. MISSOURI:  Edge rusher Charles Harris is the star of the moment for Mizzou, having earned second-team All-SEC honors last season. He’ll have to be even better this season just to be the best D-lineman on his team because end Walter Brady and tackle Terry Beckner Jr. — both sophomores — are the next big thing for the Tigers.
9. CLEMSON: Clemson has a plug-and-play history of pain inflicting defensive ends, which is why we think the line will keep on moving without Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd. Sure, the strength of the line might now be in the interior with Carlos Watkins and Christian Wilkins, but that’s not such a bad way to be.
10. UCLA: Like what the Bruins are doing here, going to a 4-3 this season, which is going to put the athletic, speedy Takkarist McKinley in more space. UCLA loses Kenny Clark but brings back immovable object Eddie Vanderdoes, a defensive tackle who missed almost all of last season with a torn ACL.

Honorable Mention: LSU, Auburn, Washington, Arkansas, Iowa

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