Pass Rushers to Know: 2026 Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Jersey's pass rushers are getting plenty of reps in early in their career. I promise a few of these defenders will emerge as top prospects in the 2026 class. Check out how they did in 2023, and look toward the future to see what could become of these skilled pass rushers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402196"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the most explosive defensive linemen in the 2026 class, [player_tooltip player_id='402196' first='Brandon' last='Simmons Jr.'] is about to make some noise throughout the state. Accelerating off of the line, Brandon was able to take the quarterback down 13 times this past fall. An edge rusher that plays with finesse, Brandon's first step is too quick for most linemen he squares up against. Equipped with excellent hand work as well to keep blockers away, Brandon will be a household name throughout the state of New Jersey.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a0be"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18162361/6574f0625cb3e1173c473a4b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc470"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1170231' first='Anwar' last='Witherspoon']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Thomas Aquinas ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1170231' first='Anwar' last='Witherspoon'] is a defensive end that is going to be on the rise over these next few seasons. With a somewhat Chandler Jones-like style to his play, Anwar is built with a burst off of the edge and the dimensions to get leverage under the shoulder pads of linemen. Racking up 5 sacks in 2023, Anwar has the attributes to set himself apart, and as he continues to add on strength and perfect his skills he will become a highly sought after target.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a169"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17796483/65637ce302b31d0d843c2b00' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656d2413bc520"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1087580"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Another player that could develop into something special, [player_tooltip player_id='1087580' first='Thomas' last='Diemar'] put up big numbers in his sophomore campaign. The Bernards defensive end found his way to the quarterback 8 times and amassed 47 tackles over the last season. With strong arms to fight off blockers, Thomas tosses them to the side when he gets them to pivot and misstep. He comes off of the edge with aggressive intent and is sure to pursue the QB as long as he has the ball in his hands. Thomas will be a tough player to block these next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a1de"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17535239/655b6f2932dc430abcf0b321' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6573b8a818f84"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["28948"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A destructive force in the middle of the defensive unit, New Milford's [player_tooltip player_id='1550963' first='Jake' last='Johnson'] absolutely overshadows every blocker he lines up against. Jake is the type of defensive linemen that can single handedly collapse the pocket and force the quarterback to exit the pocket earlier than intended. From what I've seen, there is a lot of potential coming out of New Milford in [player_tooltip player_id='1550963' first='Jake' last='Johnson'].","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a24e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18128128/6578ba5f02bc8414c0cacffb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a26c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971268"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='971268' first='Jaleel' last='Williams'] had a very impressive sophomore season for Oakcrest in 2023. As an elusive pass rusher, Jaleel fought off blockers all season long on his way to bringing the pressure onto the quarterback. Making his mark in the backfield by bringing the QB down 6 times, blockers need to get into Jaleel's path because his speed allows him to take off and get inside the pocket extremely quickly. A sturdy run defender as well, Jaleel holds his position on the edge preventing the offense from having any success on the outside.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a2cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18025943/65789dd4bd6a9c079cf0ee79' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656741a275c00"} /-->