Outside of UTEP’s Praise Amaewhule (pursuing a professional career) and Jacksonville State’s Chris Hardie (transferred to Ole Miss), the 2024 CUSA EDGE Rankings feature nearly all of last year’s top defenders.
But with Amaewhule and Hardie gone, two spots in the top five are wide open, offering new names the chance to step up and make their mark in the upcoming season.
CUSA 2024 EDGE Rankings
10) Jordan Miles, Kennesaw State Owls
A second-team All-OVC transfer from Eastern Illinois, Jordan Miles instantly earned a starting role with the Owls. His 24 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks don’t appear all that impressive, but Kennesaw State only played nine games in 2023, and Miles led the team with five QBs hurries.
The two biggest takeaways from Miles’ campaign were his improved tackling and career-high usage over tackle. With most of the team’s top talent returning from redshirt seasons, Miles could explode in 2024.
9) Sebastian Benjamin, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
In only 10 games and two starts, Sebastian Benjamin blitzed his way to 32 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and three sacks, proving to be WKU’s premier pass rusher.
It’s not as if Benjamin came from nowhere, as he earned first-team All-NEC honors following the 2022 season at Saint Francis. With an increase in snaps in 2024, Benjamin could make his second all-conference team.
8) Buddha Peleti, New Mexico State Aggies
Buddha Peleti was New Mexico State’s defensive ironman last year, rarely leaving the field.
Standing 6’2″, 250 pounds with long flowing hair, it isn’t difficult to find him on film. But Peleti is more than just looks, as he filled the stat sheet — 34 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles — on a team best known for its offensive prowess.
The 2024 season may be tough for the Aggies, but Peleti’s relentless motor will ensure he stands out.
7) Issiah Nixon, Sam Houston Bearkats
All it takes is one minute of Issiah Nixon’s film to understand why he made the Shrine Bowl 1000 watch list. The 6’1″, 235-pound EDGE spent his first three years at Texas State before putting himself on the map last season.
MORE: Conference USA Strength of Schedule
In his first campaign with the Bearkats, Nixon generated 25 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble. He even saw seven carries on offense, scoring two touchdowns and highlighting his sought-after athleticism.
Yet, it’s Nixon’s array of pass-rush moves — such as push-pull, chop, long-arm, and rip — as well as his exceptional bend around the arc that could pave the way for a future on Sundays.
6) Eddie Walls III, FIU Panthers
The FIU defense needed a disruptive EDGE to pair with DL Jeramy Passmore, and it found just that in Eddie Walls III. After putting up 45 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, and four sacks last year at Bethune-Cookman, he is poised to elevate his game and boost the Panthers’ defensive pressure.
While Walls can improve as a tackler, he knows how to win with his 6’4″ and 247-pound frame in all phases — we just need to see it in the FBS before placing him any higher on the 2024 CUSA EDGE Rankings.
5) J’Dan Burnett, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
After flashing his ability as a redshirt freshman in 2022, J’Dan Burnett began the 2023 season on a tear. In three games, he posted 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and over a dozen pass-rush wins on tape.
Unfortunately, a leg injury ended Burnett’s season there, forcing fans to say, “Just wait until next year” once again.
Well, “next year” is here, and it’s bound to be glorious for the playmaking pass rusher.
4) TJ Bush Jr., Liberty Flames
It’s rare to see a true freshman start every game for his team. It’s even rarer for him to be a star right out of the gate. TJ Bush Jr. bucked the trend, starting all 14 games for the Flames en route to All-Freshman CUSA and Freshman All-American (third player in program history) honors.
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While Bush has a ways to go as a pass rusher, he made an immediate impact in nearly every other way, racking up 32 tackles, seven TFLs, and five PBUs. At 6’2″ and 265 pounds, he has the raw power to bully opponents — he just needs to add finesse to his repertoire to take his game to a new level.
3) J-Rock Swain, Jacksonville State Gamecocks
J-Rock Swain is Jacksonville State royalty. Entering his fifth year with the program, he ranks fourth on the Gamecocks’ all-time list with career tackles for loss (28.5), fourth in quarterback hurries (25), and sixth in sacks (14).
Third-year head coach Rich Rodriguez recognized Swain’s importance this offseason, saying, “J-Rock, he’s been here longer than I’ve been. He’s the old man in the crew. But he’s also a really good football player. He’s an example to all of our guys — how you come out and be totally committed, get better every year, and be all about the team. So, I’m expecting him to have another big year.”
The rocked-up 5’10” and 260-pound defender received an honorable mention All-CUSA nod after amassing 5.5 TFLs, four sacks, and two fumble recoveries across 11 games last season. Now healthy and back for one more season, Swain is primed to cement his legacy as Gamecocks vie for a conference title in 2024.
2) CJ Bazile Jr., Liberty Flames
A large reason for Bush’s Year 1 success was having CJ Bazile Jr. across from him. A 6’1″ and 260-pound ball of energy, Bazile finished with 49 tackles last season while leading the Flames in TFLs (10.5), sacks (three), and QB hurries (11).
The best part? Bazile was only a true sophomore, pointing to a ceiling even higher than his 2023 production.
Don’t take my word for it — Bazile landed on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and was named the CUSA’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year this offseason.
1) Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP Miners
How new head coach Scotty Walden was able to keep Maurice Westmoreland in El Paso is nothing short of a miracle, as the EDGE has Power Four talent.
Last season, Westmoreland produced 37 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks (second in the CUSA) en route to first-team All-Conference honors.
KEEP READING: 2024 Conference USA Power Rankings
The accolades continued to roll in this offseason, as he landed on the Shrine Bowl 1000, Senior Bowl, Lombardi Award, and Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists.
Westmoreland isn’t just the No. 1 player on the 2024 CUSA EDGE Rankings; he’s one of the best pass rushers in the entire Group of Five.
2024 CUSA EDGE Rankings | 11-20
11) Curley Young Jr., Jacksonville State
12) Mykol Clark, Louisiana Tech
13) Deante McCray, Western Kentucky
14) Jevon Leon, Sam Houston
15) Giovanni Davis, FIU
16) Devin Goree, UTEP
17) Kale Edwards, New Mexico State
18) Jessie Evans, Louisiana Tech
19) James Stewart, Middle Tennessee State
20) Andy Nwaoko, Middle Tennessee State
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