In the new age of college football, the battle for top spots often intensifies with the arrival of new talent. The 2024 AAC EDGE Rankings highlight this dynamic, as East Carolina’s Chad Stephens, a standout returner and one of the best players in the conference, sees several high-profile transfers surpass him.
AAC 2024 EDGE Rankings
10) Owen Ostroski, Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Despite dealing with injuries that limited his availability (missed three games and left another early), Owen Ostroski showcased his potential as a key defensive player for Tulsa last season. He finished the season with 31 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks, demonstrating his reliability as a tackler.
When healthy, Ostroski’s presence proved crucial to Tulsa’s defense, and he remains a key player entering the 2024 campaign.
9) Charles Looes, Rice Owls
At 6’3″ and 283 pounds, Charles Looes looks more like a defensive tackle than an edge rusher, but you can’t tell by the way he moves on the field. He has the fluidity to chase down QBs and flow across gaps while also having the brute strength to stack and shed and blow OTs backward.
Looes was a two-year starter at Dartmouth, earning first-team All-Ivy recognition after amassing 43 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks in 2023. His impressive production and alignment versatility make him a significant asset for Rice.
8) Javon Carter, Tulane Green Wave
Since Deion Sanders left Jackson State, the national spotlight has left HBCUs, but that doesn’t mean the talent did as well. Javon Carter spent four years at FCS-level Grambling, breaking out in 2023. He recorded nine TFLs and four sacks, alongside a forced fumble and fumble recovery. His 6’4″ and 258-pound frame should have no issue translating to the FBS, especially under the tutelage of Jon Sumrall and Co. at Tulane.
7) Stone Handy, Charlotte 49ers
Stone Handy is a preseason favorite to pierce the national consciousness in 2024. After spending two years at Auburn, one year at Indiana, and sitting out his first season with Charlotte, Handy played in 10 games in 2023, starting five during the latter part of the season. The result? Twenty-nine tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and two sacks, and an impressive pressure rate.
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Handy clearly has Power Four talent; in his final collegiate season, it’s time to unleash it on the Group of Five stage.
6) Jimmori Robinson, UTSA Roadrunners
Although he only started one game last season, Jimmori Robinson set a program record with 10 QB hurries, highlighting his ability to disrupt the passer. He sports a well-built 6’5″ and 250-pound frame with the first-step quickness that stuns slower-footed offensive linemen. With Trey Moore gone, the Roadrunners will lean on Robinson heavily in 2024. If he can stay healthy, landing on an all-conference team is all but guaranteed.
5) Diwun Black, Temple Owls
Diwun Black began his collegiate career at Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he won the 2019 NJCAA National Championship. Following an impressive season, Black was rated as the No. 1 JUCO recruit in the nation, earning him a spot on Florida’s roster. However, he rarely saw the field during his two years with the program, forcing him to find a new home.
In his first season with Temple, Black filled up the stat sheet with 29 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. As he only started a handful of games, it’s safe to say that’s Black’s statistical floor in 2024.
4) Chad Stephens, East Carolina Pirates
The Pirates suffered their worst season (2-10) in two decades last year, but don’t blame Chad Stephens. At 6’1″ and 270 pounds, Stephens is a problem for offensive tackles due to bend, balance, and raw power. His lack of length and elite traits certainly lower his ceiling, but he’s proven capable of producing at multiple spots along the D-line.
In 2022, Stephens operated at 3-tech, generating 40 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. Then, in 2023, he moved to a full-time edge role and actually improved statistically (41, 11.5, and 3.5), earning an honorable mention all-conference nod. With another year to hone his craft, Stephens is poised to further elevate his game in 2024.
3) Terrell Allen, Tulane Green Wave
I’ve been a fan of Terrell Allen since his time at Austin Peay (2020-21), but he reached his ultimate form while at Tennessee State (2022-23). His play transcends his size (6’0″, 275), as he’s consistently one of the best players on any field he steps on. In 2023, Allen won Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Year after producing 65 tackles and leading the FCS in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (28, a school record).
Allen also added five forced fumbles to boot, showcasing his destructive tendencies on the field. His shorter length can cause issues when trying to wrap up ball carriers, but with fellow former HBCU defender Javon Carter across from him, Allen should have no problem maintaining his elite form in the AAC.
2) Javon Denis, Memphis Tigers
Javon Denis, standing 6’0″ and 272 pounds, brings valuable experience to Memphis after spending four years at Georgia State. In 2022, he was an All-Sun Belt honorable mention with nine TFLs and four sacks to his name.
He came right back with 6.5 TFLs and a team-leading five sacks last season, but he’s ready to take his game to a new level with AAC favorite Memphis. With his penchant for generating pressure and the talent on the Tigers’ defense, five sacks should be Denis’ floor in 2024.
1) Adin Huntington, Tulane Green Wave
It’s fitting that a transfer tops the 2024 AAC EDGE Rankings. Adin Huntington is a sawed-off shotgun at 6’1″ and 281 pounds, making up for his lack of length with a primal need to wreak havoc. In 2023, he garnered second-team All-Sun Belt honors by delivering 63 tackles, 16 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
KEEP READING: 2024 All-AAC College Football Preseason Team and Individual Honors
In contrast, here are Huntington’s totals across the three previous seasons at Kent State: 45 tackles, eight TFLs, and three sacks. But he hasn’t bathed in his success, instead going back to the lab. This offseason, Huntington has hit personal bests of 665 pounds in the squat, 435 in the bench press, and a 38-inch vertical jump. AAC QBs beware: Huntington will live up to his name this year, hunting a ton of sacks to add to his résumé.
2024 AAC EDGE Rankings | 11-20
11) Reggie Grimes III and Cormontae Hamilton, Memphis
12) Josh Pearcy, Rice
13) Desmond Little, UAB
14) Justin Reed and Luke Pirris, Navy
15) Michael Williams II and Jason Vaughn, USF
16) Demon Clowney and Stephen Sings V, Charlotte
17) Chris Jones and Marlon Bradley, FAU
18) Tra Thomas and Sekou Kromah, Temple
19) Myles Jackson, Tulsa
20) Trey Sofia, Army
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