2026 Rankings Newcomers: Defensive Line/EDGE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone North Carolina recently updated their Class of 2026 Rankings, and several players were added to the rankings after strong junior seasons! This article will focus on selected Defensive Linemen/Edge Players added to this ranking update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1600434"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678db98b260bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When your first offer as a junior comes from the University of North Carolina, it's a strong statement. Even before then though, Terande was on our radar because he had a special junior season on the field. Terande made game changing plays all year in helping Richmond County to the 3rd round of the State Playoffs. As a dominant EDGE player, Terande had 16 sacks, 90 tackles, and 33 tackles for loss. Terande has also been offered by Troy University. Terande lists a 4.62 40 yard dash time and a 3.2 GPA on his profile, numbers that should equal more offers coming his way sooner than later. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["987160"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678db98b2613e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I just wrote about Damaad in our 704 Junior Bowl series so I won't belabor the analysis here, but I will share that he is a newcomer to our rankings because Damaad came into a brand new Ballantyne Ridge program from the West Coast right before the season began. Damaad is simply a Power 4 EDGE prospect with the physical frame and traits to do well on the next level. Damaad was recently offered by Appalachian State and has visits to NC State and Southern California planned. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1537897"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678db98b26189"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ben really exploded from a recruiting perspective at the beginning of the season, picking up a number of Power 4 offers from Georgia, Florida State, North Carolina, and West Virginia all in August. Ben has picked up several more offers since then from Power 4 schools. Ben is a dominant interior defensive lineman who excels in getting immediate penetration at the snap by using a combination of elite strength and a quick burst off the ball at the snap. His athleticism for his size is very good, and allows him to stop plays before they even get started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1408773"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678db98b261cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's not often that a team's starting quarterback is better known for another position, but [player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell'] is a special case. This past season, Tyler had some impressive production as a defensive end. Tyler had 80 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 21 sacks. Add on over 700 passing yards on offense and 3 rushing touchdowns, you see already that Tyler is an extremely athletic player. As a pass rusher, Tyler can overpower tackles with a bullrush, use his hands well to shed the block, and he has good closing speed to get the quarterback on the ground. It's scary to think how good he could become if he focused on defense full time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1543777"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678db98b2620f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our final defensive lineman to feature had some strong production this past season. De'zhian was named his conference's defensive player of the year with 89 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks on the season. In reviewing his film, De'zhian does a great job in getting his hands on an offensive lineman, reading the play,.then shedding the block and using good speed to make sacks in the backfield or track ball carriers down for tackles for losses. I'm excited to see what another off-season does for his on field productivity next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Additional players added to our rankings include:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Linemen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1600396' first='Kenyan' last='Stewart'] - Butler<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1572758' first='Caleb' last='Terhune'] - North Stanly<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1572066' first='Chancellor' last='Davis'] - Chase<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1508074' first='DeAntaye' last='Smith'] - Jordan Matthews<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1369780' first='Jordan' last='Roberts'] - Olympic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1604551' first='Nathan' last='Mbanya'] - Ardrey Kell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EDGE Players<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1551652' first='Tre' last='Walker'] - Parkland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1600477' first='Joshua' last='Butler'] - Independence<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1600409' first='Amir' last='Childs'] - Cox Mill<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1600413' first='Brayden' last='Kern'] - Middle Creek<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1433039' first='Rylan' last='Russ'] - Piedmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->