Wilkins Was Part of One of Best D-Lines in CFB History

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and the "Power Rangers" were one of the greatest defensive lines in the history of college football.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins knows a thing or two about what a good defensive line looks like.

Wilkins was a member of one of the greatest defensive lines to come through college football, a unit that consisted of Wilkins, former Raider Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant and Dexter Lawrence.

Together, the four linemen helped lead college football's best defense in the 2018 season. The Tigers, of course, went on to win the national championship that season, Wilkins' final with the program.

"Those are my brothers, my best friends," Wilkins said when he recently joined the "Third and Long" podcast. "And it's just crazy because three of us came in together -- we graduated high school 2015 -- all came in together. Me, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant.

" ... We all just had like different upbringings, different lifestyles, but we all came in together in the same class, and we just hit it off, and we were homies ever since. And then, our fat little brother joined us the year later -- 'Big Dex,' Dexter Lawrence. Shoutout to Dex. And he just kind of completed the whole Rangers and the D-line.

"He, obviously, added so much. ... And I was kind of the ring leader of the "Power Rangers." I'm a big kid, as everybody knows, I'm a big-time Power Ranger fan. So, I was just kind of like, 'Aye, we need an identity or something.' So, that's kind of just become a thing and it's carried with us now.

"We still call each other Power Rangers or whatever, and you see, obviously, when I get a sack or make a play, I'm always morphing. That's kind of still my thing because, again, that's a shoutout to those guys and just, again, just me being a big kid again and just having fun while I'm playing."

Wilkins shared his thoughts regarding whether he and the Power Rangers were the greatest college defensive line of all time.

"I'm going to leave that for the people, but I will say there were some other good defensive lines, I will say," Wilkins said. "But I think just what we were able to do as a front when you just factor everything in -- winning, All-Americans, productions -- I mean, I think we're right there at the top. ... Getting drafted, three first-rounder and Austin, a fourth-rounder.

"So, I mean, that was different. I mean, I don't know how many other D-lines had three first-rounders, but I know there was some good D-lines. But I don't think too many did that."

You can watch the entire podcast episode here.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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