2026 Rankings: Breaking Down The Defensive Line

The defensive linemen in the 2026 Class have been proving themselves in the trenches for quite some time. Some of them put up big numbers as freshmen. Others made a big jump as sophomores.   Now, they're upperclassmen, and they're poised for big things. Here's a look at the 2026 defensive linemen class.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] Chester   Sometimes, player analysis is easy. [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] creates chaos. That's it. It's that simple. He's a guy that absolutely has to be accounted for, and most of the time that accounting requires an extra body. He was a stat monster for the Cyclones last season, with 74 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 23 hurries. With quick hands, quick feet, a nasty streak, and a high motor, Radford might not always get to the QB, but you know he's always coming. He's a fantastic run-stopper as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='617662' first='Jamie' last='Williamson'] West Florence   Williamson's almost the picture of what a top-tier DL looks like. At 6-feet-1 and a shade over 280 pounds, he's got long arms and a quick step. He's aggressive, and that aggression pays off and allows him to make a bunch of plays. He can beat guys with a variety of moves, or simply overpower offensive linemen on occasion, and he plays well in pursuit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025774' first='Sawyer' last='Arnold'] Oceanside Collegiate   Arnold had a fantastic sophomore year, notching 17 sacks and 11 tackles for loss for the Landsharks. He's extremely quick off the edge, and is often in the backfield before a play can truly develop. He's physical as well, and his frame allows him to overwhelm opponents on a lot of occasions. He's also good at chasing plays down from behind.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson'] Camden   Wilson is another guy who perfectly fits the DL mold, whether it's off the edge or in the middle. He gets a great push up front, and he's able to get off of blocks relatively easily. At 313 pounds, he's tough to handle in one-on-one matchups, and his wingspan and quick burst helps him get into a position to win those matchups early in the play.   [player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons'] Beaufort   Opponents might run it at Beaufort, but it probably won't (and shouldn't) be at Simmons. He's a fantastic run-stopper, with 78 tackles and 19 tackles for loss a year ago. He's extremely active and always seems to be around the ball, and he's fast enough to fill holes and snuff out runs quickly.    EIGHT RISING STARS   [player_tooltip player_id='473026' first='Michael' last='Garnett'] Philip Simmons   Garnett's a big body who can clog up running lanes and who's got quick hands and a knack for knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage.   [player_tooltip player_id='816739' first='Rayfield' last='Bell'] Wagener-Salley   Bell's extremely disruptive, with a quick move off the edge and the ability to blow up offensive plays by himself.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165105' first='Trent' last='Garner'] Pendleton   Speaking of disrupting offenses, look no further than Garner. He helped lead Pendleton's defense with 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a sophomore.   [player_tooltip player_id='473018' first='Landon' last='Conner'] Loris   Physical enough to play on the line and athletic enough to play OLB, Conner is a high-energy player who pretty much lives in the opposing backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='284133' first='Deontra' last='Allen'] Aiken   Allen's another super-versatile guy with speed and power who can play a couple of places, but whose physical presence makes him a natural at DL.   [player_tooltip player_id='367827' first='Bristol' last='Biegenzahn'] West Ashley   Biegenzahn has the athleticism of a natural TE, but the physical edge needed to excel at DE. Fortunately for the Warriors he's good at both. On the defensive side, he excels at reading plays and making stops in the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267215' first='Michael' last='Posey'] Eastside   Posey made a huge impact as a sophomore with 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two fumble recoveries. He's got a tremendous speed rush and the ability to fight through blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025808' first='Chris' last='Stewart'] Andrews   Stewart does a little bit of everything for the Yellow Jackets. He can rush the passer, stop the run, chase down plays from behind, and he's an absolute monster at forcing turnovers.    THREE DARK HORSE CANDIDATES   [player_tooltip player_id='284136' first='Miles' last='Wilson'] South Pointe   Wilson had eight tackles for loss last season on an absolutely loaded defense, and should be in line for an even bigger role this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267288' first='Elijah' last='Williams'] Myrtle Beach   Williams is a prototype player in the middle of the line, winning matchups with power, filling the gap, and chasing down plays from behind.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267316' first='Denardo' last='Henry'] Ridgeland   Henry looks right at home playing either up or down off the edge, and he's a tremendous pass-rusher with a ton of upside.    With a deep class and a ton of guys who are fast and physical, DL will be a huge position to watch in the 2026 class.

The defensive linemen in the 2026 Class have been proving themselves in the trenches for quite some time. Some of them put up big numbers as freshmen. Others made a big jump as sophomores.