Comparing LSU's 2023 defensive line class to rest of SEC West

With the increased prominence of early signing day and the rapid usage of the transfer portal over the past month, teams across the country have been quickly flipping their rosters over and looking towards 2023.

LSU has been one of the more active teams in the country, already signing 25 freshmen and 11 transfers in an attempt to reload and get ahead of the competition going into the spring. The entire SEC West has been hard at work, looking to reevaluate their roster after LSU won the division in Brian Kelly’s first year. Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, and Sam Pittman are all back and looking to find difference makers on both sides to get to Atlanta, first and foremost.

Today, we have the final installment of our comparison series, this time evaluating the 2023 defensive line classes of every team in the SEC West.

Previous stories: Wide receiver, Offensive line, Defensive back, Running back, Quarterback, Linebacker

Here’s what every team has added so far and my thoughts on the haul and where it put each team moving forward.

LSU

Dashawn Womack: 96.47, No. 5 EDGE

Jaxon Howard: 93.63, No. 16 EDGE

Dylan Carpenter: 87.76, No. 56 EDGE

Transfers: Jalen Lee (Florida), Bradyn Swinson (Oregon), Movie Oghoufo (Texas), Paris Shand (Arizona), Jordan Jefferson (West Virginia).

LSU’s overhaul on defense continues on the defensive line and is perhaps most prominent at this position. After losing three starters, the Tigers quickly added a batch of high-major transfers to go with the trio of defensive end commits in the 2023 class. Womack has incredibly high upside and is a great fit in the Matt House defense at the JACK position. Lee, and Jefferson were big additions as transfers to help solidify the interior of the defensive line in 2023 as depth was a major concern this past season. Overall, it might not be as top heavy as others, but there could be several consistent contributors from this class heading into the 2023 season.

Alabama

Keon Keeley: 99.35, No. 1 EDGE

James Smith: 97.38, No. 3 DL

Yhonzae Pierre: 97.33, No. 4 EDGE

Jordan Renaud: 95.28, No. 11 DL

Edric Hill: 92.53, No. 17 DL

Flipping Keeley from Notre Dame was one of the biggest coops of the offseason and speaks to just how intimidating Alabama is. With Keeley on board and guys like Smith and Pierre as five stars as well, we’re talking about another group of defensive linemen that will help transition the Tide from Will Anderson and Dallas Turner to the next group of great defensive linemen. Seniors like Tim Smith and Justin Eboigbe will be important parts of the defensive front in 2023 as well, even though Turner will get most of the headlines as a pass rusher.

Texas A&M

David Hicks: 98.98, No. 1 DL

Rylan Kennedy: 87.63, No. 57 EDGE

Samu Taumanupepe: 86.60, No. 83 DL

Hicks is well deserving of his Five-Star Plus classification as the 6-foot-4 freight train out of Katy will be a huge piece for the Aggies defensive line in the coming years. Getting him signed with Oklahoma, Miami, and Oregon all pushing hard was a massive win for Jimbo Fisher and the staff. Even after a rough year and in a modest 2023 class, Hicks has the potential to be an impact player early and often. He’ll be joining a few other former five-star prospects in Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Walter Nolen up front in College Station.

Auburn

Kedric Faulk: 95.46, No. 10 DL

Darron Reed: 92.44, No. 19 DL

Wilky Denaud: 89.35, No. 39 EDGE

Brenton Williams: 86.28, No. 94 DL

Quientrail Travis: 87.95, No. 7 JUCO DL

Transfers: Justin Rogers (Kentucky), Mosiah Nasii Kite (Maryland), Lawrence Johnson (Purdue), 

The Hugh Freeze renovation is in full swing and the defensive line is a position of complete turnover. Auburn returns a couple of contributors, but for the most part, there will be new faces across the board in the defensive line rotation. Freeze and company edged out other SEC teams for Rogers’ services. Reed flipped to Auburn from LSU when there wasn’t even a head coach in place. Then, when all signs pointed to Faulk going to Florida State, Auburn got him signed in the end. It is a really good defensive line haul for Auburn in this class.

Mississippi State

Eric Taylor: 88.78, No. 5 JUCO DL

Johnathan Davis: 88.33, No. 54 DL

Caleb Bryant: 87,83, No. 63 DL

Joseph Head: 87.8. No. 53 EDGE

Gabriel Moore: 86.22, No. 95 DL

Zarch Arnett has an incredibly challenging task in front of him, replacing a legend in Mike Leach, and in order for him to have success it’ll need to be on the defensive side of the ball. Fortunately, the bulldogs have several key returners on the defensive line and on the defensive two-deep overall, so there wasn’t a need for immediate impact players in this class or transfers. Tyrus Wheat returns after posting 10.5 tackles for loss last year, Jaden Crumedy and Jordan Davis both showed flashes. We’ll see how this 2023 class looks in 2024.

Ole Miss 

Jamarious Brown: 91.07, No. 35 DL

Chamberlain Campbell: 87.8, No. 54 EDGE

DeeJay Holmes: 85.55, No. 84 EDGE

Transfer: Joshua Harris (NC State)

Similar to their in-state rivals, the Rebels appear to be set on the defensive line going into 2023. Jared Ivey and Cedric Johnson will both be seniors and come off of seasons with four sacks each. There’s plenty of experience for new defensive coordinator Pete Golding to work with here. Add in a veteran in Harris from the portal and Brown who has the potential to be a rotation piece in year one, there’s some positivity in Oxford for the D-Line unit.

Arkansas

Quincy Rhodes: 89.88, No. 34 EDGE

Kaleb James: 87.55, No. 68 DL

Carson Dean: 87.28, No. 62 EDGE

Brad Spence: 86.33, No. 71 EDGE

Transfers: John Morgan (Pittsburgh), Trajan Jeffcoat (Missouri)

Jeffcoat is the biggest name here. A three year starter at Missouri, he’ll step in and immediately look to create havoc in a similar way to Drew Sanders. It’s a huge pickup for the Razorbacks and one that they desperately needed with the change at defensive coordinator in 2023. Morgan was a quality player at Pitt, himself, totaling 14 sacks in 46 games before transferring to Arkansas.The incoming class has to prove themselves, but with the two transfers, there won’t be pressure to step in and play significantly from day one.