PFF ranks Arizona State’s Jermayne Lole as top-50 player in CFB

Even though Arizona State football had a short season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sun Devils’ Jermayne Lole showed why he is viewed as one of the best defensive linemen country.

He finished with 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks over four games in 2020.

Pro Football Focus ranks Lole as the 24th-best college football player heading into 2021.

A big reason for that is because of his breakout season in 2019. From the interior of the line, Lole led ASU with 6.5 sacks and 72 tackles and was an All Pac-12 honorable mention. He also finished in the top 10 of PFF’s grading against the run.

PFF’s Anthony Treash believes ASU’s new defensive scheme that moved Lole from the edge to the inside allowed him to take that next step.

…He was even better against the run and looked far more polished as a pass-rusher. In fact, Lole was the third-highest-graded Power Five defensive linemen when playing 3-technique this past season. The fact that he played only four games in 2020 and still came away with 18 pressures and 17 defensive stops is quite impressive.

Treash also put the Sun Devil defensive lineman on PFF’s Preseason All-American list. Lole was a First Team selection at interior defensive line.

In his three seasons in Tempe, he has a total of 11.0 sacks, 123 tackles (20 for loss) and eight passes defended.

At 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds, Lole is a bit undersized at his position, but NFL Network’s Ben Fennell still sees him as “top-50 potential” in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft.

Love seeing the short area quickness and hand use from Jermayne Lole – hoping to see more these plays finished next season… Top 50 potential. @PFF_College #2 iDL coming into 2021 pic.twitter.com/xdJVOSpf3S

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 27, 2021