Q1 Rankings Update: New 2027 Edge Rushers

North Carolina's 2027 class has the potential to be special. In the Fall, sophomores all over the state not only played, but played well. Accordingly, we added more players to this class in a single update than we've ever added before. This week we're highlighting the new additions to the rankings, guys who are just starting their high school varsity careers, but have already caught our eyes. Here, we're breaking down the new 2027 edge rushers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 New Additions: Edge Rushers</h2>    We'd heard before this update cycle that Millbrook had an elite edge rusher waiting in the wings, but we waited for varsity film before putting him in the rankings. 26.5 sacks later, safe to say he's going to be near the top of this class. Streets has rare explosive ability and already has great size. He's able to change directions well and his first pass-rushing move usually is just a set up for what he's trying to get to.     If you rack up 23 sacks in one season, you'll likely find yourself high up in the rankings. If you're 6'6" and 240 pounds with good length and a quick first step, you'll probably find yourself near the top. That's Rogers, who is raw as a pass-rusher, but explosive with elite athleticism. That profile suggests he's going to get even better as he ages.     Perkins is huge and fast and he looks like a Mack truck coming off the edge. He's raw in the sense that he hasn't yet fully realized how to use his athleticism. That just means his ceiling is that much higher. Perkins has good bend and a solid first step, allowing him to beat tackles with speed. He has power too though and is tough to block one-on-one.     Drayton is a long, lean, and quick edge rusher. His wingspan allows him to engage offensive linemen before they can get to his chest and he flashes the ability to convert speed to power. He's a guy who should improve greatly with some more time in the weight room and with some position training and I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up higher in our rankings by the time he's a senior.     Atkins has produced some quality edge rushers and Best may be next. A two-way player, he excels at using his length, both at receiver and edge rusher. A deep threat on offense, Best thrives most on the defensive side of the ball where he has great hands against opposing offensive tackles. He's able to use chops and rips to get after quarterbacks.     James does a little bit of everything for Hunt. He can stand up off the ball and drop into coverage, or he can put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer. Either way, when he lines up, Hunt isn't far from a big play. His athleticism and short-area quickness really pop on film and I'm excited to see how he develops.     Leonard got some varsity run as a freshman, which probably accelerated his development as a sophomore. He had seven sacks last season for West Davidson, racking up a bunch of tackles in the running game as well. There's a possibility his size and ability to diagnose plays puts him more in an off-ball role in the future, but for now, I love him coming off the edge.     Norton has great athleticism and pops on film, even as I was watching the highlight tapes of some of his Red Springs teammates. He has excellent size for a sophomore, and his athleticism and bend around the edge are impressive. As a pure pass-rusher, he looks like a future star. He's not a bad receiver either, but I expect him to put on weight and hone his craft off the edge in the future.

North Carolina's 2027 class has the potential to be special. In the Fall, sophomores all over the state not only played, but played well. Accordingly, we added more players to this class in a single update than we've ever added before. This week we're highlighting the new additions to the rankings, guys who are just starting their high school varsity careers, but have already caught our eyes. Here, we're breaking down the new 2027 edge rushers.