Spring football is on the horizon for the 13 FBS programs in the state of Texas. That means it is time to shift focus forward and rank the 10 best players at each position across the state, continuing with interior defensive linemen. 

The Lone Star State sent 10 programs to bowl games and two to the College Football Playoff as only Rice, UTEP, and Houston missed out on the postseason after the 2024 season. The 2025 season looks like another big year for the Great State because of the returning talent and added star power from the transfer portal. 

Previous: QB | RB | WR/TE | OL | Edge 

1. Albert Regis, Texas A&M 

2024 recap: 36 tackles, 3 TFL, 0.5 sacks 

The La Porte export started all 13 games for the Aggies at defensive tackle for first-year head coach Mike Elko. He was third amongst SEC defensive linemen with six pass breakups. He played 495 snaps in 2024 and ended the year with a PFF grade of 74.5, the second-best for any returning Power Four defensive tackle in Texas. 

2. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech 

2024 recap: 45 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1 sack

2024 recap: The Red Raiders needed to improve in the trenches to compete for a Big 12 title in 2025 and Hunter, who transferred in from UCF, posted an 80.3 PFF grade against the run in over 500 snaps in the Big 12. But he’s not just a run stuffer. Hunter has five sacks in his career and over 21 tackles for loss. The 6-4, 320-pounder from Alabama began his college career at Auburn. He’ll be a Day 1 starter in Lubbock. 

3. Jackie Marshall, Baylor 

2024 recap: 42 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks

Marshall was the top-graded Baylor defender by PFF last year with a 78.4, which leads all returners at the Power Four level inside of Texas. He started all 13 games for the Bears as they finished the regular season with six straight wins and posted a winning record for the first time since 2021. Marshall led Baylor with 22 pressures on 619 defensive snaps. At 6-3 and 290 pounds, he’s a versatile defender who can line up across the Baylor front. 

4. Anthony Holmes, Texas Tech 

2024 recap: 40 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 sacks 

Holmes followed defensive coordinator Shiel Wood from Houston to Lubbock after the 2024 season. He’s a product of Spring Westfield, which also produced star defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Keondre Coburn. Holmes is an excellent pass rusher for his size, ranking third in the Big 12 last year with 19 quarterback hurries and 25 quarterback pressures. 

5. Markis Deal, TCU 

2024 recap: 21 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack

Deal started seven games in 2024, missing a pair due to injury during the campaign. He came off the bench for the first four contests. The Frogs were better against the run when he was in the starting lineup and he finished fifth on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss. Three of those TFLs – and his lone sack – happened against Cincy in the season finale. He had a career-best five tackles in the bowl win over Louisiana. 

6. Terry Webb, SMU 

2024 recap: 26 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack 

The Texas State transfer is one of the highest-graded interior defensive linemen in FBS, though he’ll need to prove capable of handling P4 offensive lines after a stellar season in the Sun Belt. He began his career at Kilgore Junior College before starting 23 times in two years in San Marcos.

7. Cole Brevard, Texas

2024 recap: 19 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks 

The Purdue transfer was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media after starting 11 times for the Boilermakers in 2024. He’s started 23 times in 37 appearances during a college career that includes a tackle for loss on nearly 20 percent of his total stops. He’s also recovered two fumbles. He’ll be part of a committee of defensive tackles for the Horns as they hope to replace Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton. 

8. Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M 

2024 recap: 33 tackles, 2.5 TFL

The Iowa State transfer started 21 times over the last two years for the Cyclones. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2023 after he logged 6.5 TFL and 2 sacks. His production dipped a bit in 2024 with only eight starts in 13 appearances, but he should slot in nicely at Texas A&M alongside Revis and DJ Hicks. 

9. Joshua Donald, Houston 

2024 recap: 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks 

Donald should start at nose tackle for Houston as he moves up to Power Four football after a productive year in the Sun Belt for Appalachian State. He began his college career at Southern University and spent the spring of 2024 at Troy before landing at App State. He and fellow transfer Khalil Laufau are high upside players who can be disruptive as pass rushers despite their size.   

10. Richard Outland Jr., North Texas 

2024 recap: 18 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks 

Outland is another former Sam Houston defender who followed new Mean Green defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity to Denton after helping the Sam Houston Bearkats win 10 games in Year 2 as an FBS program. He started 11 times last year and played 22 games in Huntsville. He missed the 2023 season due to injury.