Feared pass rushers. Multi-gap interior mutations. Versatile linebackers. Ballhawking safeties.

It sure would be nice to have one of each on your favorite team's starting defense, wouldn't it?

Continuing our late-summer national position rankings, sorting the nation's top defensive players ahead of the 2019 season is an arduous task considering there's nearly 1,500 starters to choose from on that side of the football.

What goes into creating a subjective 25-player projection a few weeks out from kickoff? This list — like our individual quarterback, running back and wide receiver rankings — is determined by a variety of factors including projected numbers relative to team success, impact in respective conferences, NFL probability and expected development from last season to now.

There will be snubs and players ranked in spots you don't agree with, which is part of what makes every preseason power ranking entertaining to discuss. Here's a look at college football's Top 25 defensive players exiting spring in anticipation of the 2019 season: