Five Rising Senior Pass Rushers You May Not Know

Jake Lemming

February 4, 2025 @ 11:36 AM

There's a reason pass rushers are among the highest-paid players in football. They're hard to find. Today, I'm looking at some productive 2026 pass rushers that are still flying under the radar. Each one of these guys stood out on film and were standouts at the varsity level his fall. Keep an eye on them this off-season as they hit the weight room and look towards a huge 2025 season.   As always, If you have someone you think I need to see, please DM them to me on Twitter at @hsfbscout!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   EDGE: Dominick Toulon, 6'2" 225, C.E. King   A twitchy kid with well-trained hands, the ability to run the hoop & bend around the edge, and impressive finishing ability out of awkward body positions. Toulon does a good job retracing in his pass-rush lane, he shows excellent burst and can get skinny on inside twists and stunts. His swim move is tight and compact and he's got the positional versatility to kick inside.   DE: Gabriel Giadolor, 6'3" 245, Red Oak   Gabriel had 103 tackles which is an absurd number for a defensive lineman. He's a high-effort kid who can fight off inside slides to get to the quarterback, he plays with controlled violence and is a force in the run game. He's got the upper body strength to make man blockers look silly and has the quickness to give slower offensive linemen problems in pass protection.   DE: [player_tooltip player_id='1507768' first='Zachary' last='Hays'], 6'3" 225, Southlake Carroll   Hays has a lightning-quick get-off, he can dip & rip around the edge, and even has experience playing as an off-ball inside linebacker. He's got exceptional closing speed, he has a long arm technique that can push the pocket and is highly effective when used off the ball as a QB spy. He's tough, fundamentally sound, and could play all over the field.   DE: Nash Chapman, 6'4" 230, Wylie East   Nash has a sudden upper half, he's slippery at the point of attack and has overall solid flexibility. He's got impressive body control for someone his size and is a tough finisher behind the line of scrimmage. This kid's motor is through the roof and he'll often make sacks on sheer effort alone. He's got some intrigue as a tight end as well.   DT: Kolton Dearth, 6'2" 305, Stephenville   10.5 sacks for an interior defensive lineman is one hard feat, and Mr. Dearth did just that in 2024. Kolton plays through the echo of the whistle. He rockets out of his stance with loose hips and strikes on a rise, he can cause penetration in both the run & pass game and will consistently displace linemen into the backfield.

There's a reason pass rushers are among the highest-paid players in football. They're hard to find. Today, I'm looking at some productive 2026 pass rushers that are still flying under the radar. Each one of these guys stood out on film and were standouts at the varsity level his fall. Keep an eye on them this off-season as they hit the weight room and look towards a huge 2025 season.