College Football Defensive Players Who Will Break Out in 2024
“Breaking out” comes in all shapes and sizes in college football.
Some of the players on this list are poised to break through the ceiling and into the stratosphere of superstardom. A few others are dudes who are going to be major impact playmakers. One is even an incoming true freshman with a prime opportunity to show out and shine.
All are defenders.
From guys who are going to catapult up NFL draft boards to players who will occupy the headlines in the college football world of today and tomorrow, the sport’s defensive group of stars is ready to shine.
Edge-rushers, run-stuffers, linebackers and lockdown defensive backs abound, and players at every defensive position are represented here. Get your telescopes ready because we’re going star-gazing for defensive megastars, blossoming on a gridiron near you in ’24.
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami Edge-Rusher
Let’s just go ahead and start with one of the biggest rising stars in all of college football, shall we?
The size and explosion of Miami rising sophomore edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was on full display a season ago, but the college football world may not know a ton about him because he played for a bad Hurricanes team.
As coach Mario Cristobal tries to build that proud program back to past glory, Bain will provide a cornerstone. A season ago as a true freshman, he was simply too talented to keep off the field, finishing the year with 44 tackles, including 12.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.
The 6’3″, 275-pound Miami Central High School product was a revelation right away, and he wound up starting 11 games. He already has a pair of two-sack games on his resume (against Clemson and Virginia), and he has so much untapped ability.
Can you imagine what he’s going to be with a year in the weight room and more of a grasp of the game? It would not be a shock at all to see him on All-America lists and for him to surge up to the top five to seven defensive players in the entire nation.
And the good thing for college football fans is he’s going to be around at least two more seasons.
