Among defensive linemen, there may not have been anyone better than Cortez Broughton on the Cincinnati Bearcats last season. You may argue that says more about the weakness of the line than the strength, but Broughton was a solid defensive tackle who helped anchor the defense.
The 6’2”, 297-pound sophomore earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors for his work in 12 games, marking the second-straight season he has played in 12 contests after enduring a season-ending injury in 2014. Broughton had 28 tackles, including 1.5 for loss in 2015, but he really stepped up his game this past season.