2014 -- Scooby Wright, Arizona, LB
2013 -- Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DE
2012 -- Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB
2011 -- Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
2010 -- Nick Fairley, Auburn, DT
2009 -- Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DE
2008 -- Brian Orakpo, Texas, DE
2007 -- Glenn Dorsey, LSU, DT
2006 -- LaMarr Woodley, Michigan, DE
2005 -- A.J. Hawk, Ohio State, LB
2004 -- David Pollack, Georgia, DE
2003 -- Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, DT
2002 -- Terrell Suggs, Arizona State, DE
2001 -- Julius Peppers, North Carolina, DE
2000 -- Jamal Reynolds, Florida State, DE
1999 -- Corey Moore, Virginia Tech, DE
1998 -- Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M, LB
1997 -- Grant Wistrom, Nebraska, DE
1996 -- Orlando Pace, Ohio State, OT
1995 -- Orlando Pace, Ohio State, OT
1994 -- Warren Sapp, Miami, DT
1993 -- Aaron Taylor, Notre Dame, OT
1992 -- Marvin Jones, Florida State, LB
1991 -- Steve Emtman, Washington, DT
1990 -- Chris Zorich, Notre Dame, NT
1989 -- Percy Snow, Michigan State, LB
1988 -- Tracy Rocker, Auburn, DT
1987 -- Chris Spielman, Ohio State, LB
1986 -- Cornelius Bennett, Alabama, LB
1985 -- Tony Casillas, Oklahoma, NG
1984 -- Tony Degrate, Texas, DT
1983 -- Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska, G
1982 -- Dave Rimington, Nebraska, C
1981 -- Kenneth Sims, Texas, DT
1980 -- Hugh Green, Pittsburgh, DE
1979 -- Brad Budde, Southern California, G
1978 -- Bruce Clark, Penn State, DT
1977 -- Ross Browner, Notre Dame, DE
1976 -- Wilson Whitley, Houston, DT
1975 -- Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma, DT
1974 -- Randy White, Maryland, DT
1973 -- John Hicks, Ohio State, OT
1972 -- Rich Glover, Nebraska, MG
1971 -- Walt Patulski, Notre Dame, DE
1970 -- Jim Stillwagon, Ohio State, MG