Ranking the Big Ten: Edge

As the 2025 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players at each position in the Big Ten.

We continue our annual Ranking the Big Ten series today with the edge and outside linebackers, a group with incredible experience in the conference.

Previous Ranking the Big Tens: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C

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1. Mikail Kamara, Indiana

Indiana’s Mikail Kamara is back after a monster first season with Indiana and the Big Ten. The 6-foot-1, 265-pound edger rusher was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a second-team All-American by the Athletic. He was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award.

Kamara led the FCS edges with 67 pressures and his 28 combined sacks and hits were the third-most in the nation last season. He had 47 tackles, 10 sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered three in 2024.

He was a part of one of Indiana’s best defensive seasons ever. The 2024 defense held a record-high eight of their opponents to less than 100 rushing yards. Indiana allowed the fewest total rushing yards (1,043), the lowest opponent scoring average (15.6), and the fewest yards of total offense (3,332) and total offense per game (256.3).

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2. Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Oregon outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei led the Big Ten in sacks during the 2024 regular season. He recorded 9.5 sacks for a loss of 59 yards. The First-Team All-Big Ten media selection had at least one sack in nine games, including two multi-sack performances. He had a sack in six consecutive Big Ten games, with three in Oregon’s final two regular-season games.

Uiagalelei added 37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and two forces fumbles. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound edge added one interception and six quarterback hurries in his first season starting.

Alongside Uiagalelei, Oregon had three defensive linemen selected among the top 90 picks in the NFL Draft. He is projected as the No. 8 defensive end in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

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3. Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Ohio State outside linebacker Sonny Styles recorded 100 tackles in his first season as a college football linebacker. He earned 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks last season. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior was an All-Big Ten second team selection.

Styles started alongside JT Tuimolau, the No. 45th pick in the NFL Draft, and Cody Simon, the No. 115 pick. Tuimolau led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks and was second in the league with 21.5 TFLs. After a strong debut season at linebacker, Styles needs to step up after two big losses in the Buckeyes’ line of defense.

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4. Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas returned to Illinois for his senior season, surpassing the NFL Draft until 2026. Jacas earned 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He led the Big Ten with three forced fumbles during the regular season. His seven sacks during the regular season tied for second in the conference.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound linebacker recorded 5.5 sacks, 9.5 TFLs and two forces fumbles against ranked teams in 2024. The 2022 freshman All-American pick was a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the league coaches and media.

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5. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

Penn State edge Dani Dennis-Sutton ended the 2024 season with a bang. He had a breakout performance against Notre Dame in the CFP Semifinals. Dennis-Sutton had two sacks, including a strip-sack fumble and an interception. In PSU’s three CFP games, he recorded 4.5 sacks and 16 tackles.

In 2024, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge earned 42 tackles, 13 for loss and 8.5 sacks. He recorded two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, nine quarterback hurries and three pass breakups in his junior season. Dennis-Sutton has at least three sacks in each of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions.

He tied for the most valuable returning Power Four edge defender over the past two years, according to  PFF’s wins above average metric. His 75 pressures in that span trail only Clemson’s T.J. Parker.

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