Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt listed his top five players to watch for Defensive Player of the Year in college football. He also has his midseason winner picked out.
Of course, the list is subject to change as the season progresses, but we have an idea of the best guys on the field through the first half of the season. Klatt picked Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain as his winner as of now.
So without further ado, let’s dive into Klatt’s list of the best defensive players in the country. One of these should win Defensive Player of the Year (or maybe someone out of left field!).
Bain is on pace for the best season of his career. Klatt has him as the Defensive Player of the Year right now as he leads a stacked Miami defense.
This year, Bain has 26 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one pass deflection and one forced fumble. He should win the award at this pace.
Arvell Reese (Birm/Lettermen Row)
The Ohio State defense was stacked last year and there were questions who would rise to the level of Caleb Downs in the secondary (more on him later). Reese has done that and put himself into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
This year, Reese has 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections. This dude is a menace for opposing offenses.
Howell has bounced around from defensive line to linebacker to edge rusher. Basically he can do it all and is right in the thick of the Defensive Player of the Year race.
He has 14 tackles this season but also nine tackles for loss and eight sacks already! After three years at Bowling Green, including a 2023 year where he had 9.5 sacks, Howell is in his second season with the Aggies and has been dominant.
Bailey is playing the best football of his career after transferring from Stanford. The Texas Tech linebacker is definitely in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
This year, Bailey has 18 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks (a career high), one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Oh yeah, there are six games left in the regular season!
Caleb Downs (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)
Downs is arguably the best defensive back in the country, like he was the past two seasons. He helps lead a dominant Ohio State defense with Reese.
Downs has 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and one interception this season. Good luck throwing in the direction of the potential Defensive Player of the Year.