- Interesting notes here regarding PFF grading before we dive in fully to the defensive line, beginning with this: Marshall was one of the country's highest-graded teams based on "overall performance" by PFF in 2020. Marshall was graded as a team at a stellar 92.7, which was 7th in the country. Only Alabama (shocker), BYU, Buffalo, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Ohio State were ahead of the Thundering Herd.
- That ranking was bolstered in large part by Brad Lambert's defense. The PFF overall grade posted by Marshall on that side of the ball was 91.4, and Marshall had a tackling grade of 93.4, just a tenth of a percentage point behind Georgia, which was the best in the country in that regard.
- Keep in mind that on these tackling statistics that PFF has two tackling categories - tackles (which are listed here and are solo variety) and assisted tackles.
- That ranking was bolstered in large part by Brad Lambert's defense. The PFF overall grade posted by Marshall on that side of the ball was 91.4, and Marshall had a tackling grade of 93.4, just a tenth of a percentage point behind Georgia, which was the best in the country in that regard.
- Keep in mind that on these tackling statistics that PFF has two tackling categories - tackles (which are listed here and are solo variety) and assisted tackles.
| Player | Snaps | Defensive Grade | Rush Defense Grade | Tackling Grade | Pass Rush Grade | Pressures | Sacks | Tackles |
| Darius Hodge | 463 | 79.4 | 79.2 | 74.5 | 77.2 | 26 | 3 | 26 |
| Jamare Edwards | 359 | 85.0 | 91.1 | 72.0 | 74.7 | 14 | 3 | 16 |
| Rodney Croom | 351 | 47.5 | 48.6 | 64.5 | 52.0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Koby Cumberlander | 340 | 67.2 | 71.3 | 62.6 | 63.7 | 19 | 4 | 14 |
Esaias Carpenter | 258 | 60.3 | 60.0 | 63.1 | 58.7 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Immanuel Bush | 198 | 71.5 | 67.6 | 79.6 | 70.2 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| Owen Porter | 198 | 58.9 | 67.2 | 74.3 | 56.6 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| TJ Johnson | 159 | 73.4 | 79.9 | 81.0 | 58.5 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Sam Burton | 125 | 68.3 | 60.8 | 66.1 | 69.0 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Elijah Alston | 67 | 65.6 | 70.8 | 77.6 | 63.1 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Daniel Foster | 45 | 49.1 | 49.6 | 75.8 | 53.1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Kyron Tayor | 39 | 57.5 | 57.4 | 69.7 | 58.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jayshaun Coffman | 30 | 69.5 | 74.6 | 77.2 | 55.6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
