The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Maryland's Ed O'Brien evaluates the newcomers to the Class of 2026 prospect rankings. Today's article features edge defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: These rankings include players from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Delaware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/january-rankings-update-who-was-added-to-our-maryland-2026-list/"><em>CHECK OUT THE CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS HERE</em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trevon Johnson | 5-11 | 220 | Perryville | MD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 19<strong><br></strong>Trevon Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound edge rusher from Perryville, Maryland, shows flashes of being an effective pass rusher, mainly due to his quickness off the edge and ability to disrupt plays. His mid-season highlights show that he can get in the backfield consistently. There are plays where Johnson is knocking blockers off balance, sidestepping running backs in pass protection, or using a bull rush to overpower an H-back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson shows good pursuit, hurrying quarterbacks into incompletions and making tackles on ball carriers near the line of scrimmage. I need to see more to determine his ability to set the edge and take on bigger blockers against the run. Shows effort in hand usage and shedding blocks, but his lack of size may be an issue at the next level. Johnson relies on his speed to win matchups when he's pass-rushing and closes well on the football. If he stays at this position and size at the next level, it may be as a situational pass-rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zacharia Lipscomb | 6-1 | 190 | Bel Air | MD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 18<strong><br></strong>Zacharia Lipscomb is an athletic, high-motor pass rusher who gets after the quarterback. His quick first step allows him to beat offensive tackles off the line. Lipscomb uses several hand techniques to disengage from blockers, including rips, swims, and cross chops. Lipscomb's ability to bend around the edge and maintain balance through contact makes him a threat as a speed rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lipscomb's closing speed is one of his standout traits, as showcased in his highlights. I love his ability to track down scrambling quarterbacks and pressure them into hurried throws. Lipscomb is versatile and can play the edge and outside linebacker positions on defense. As with most of the other prospects in this article, he's on the lighter side regarding the edge position. Lipscomb will need to put on some additional weight at the next level to handle the physicality of the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1611632' first='Brendan' last='West'] | 6-2 | 223 | Seaford | DE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1611632' first='Brendan' last='West'] shows solid fundamentals as a well-rounded edge defender in his highlights. One of his biggest strengths is his ability to effectively engage with and shed blockers, allowing him to set the edge and maintain gap integrity in the run game. His highlights indicate that he can take on bigger offensive linemen and still make plays, whether tackling a running back at the line of scrimmage or chasing down a scrambling quarterback. West also demonstrates good pursuit, as seen when he tracks down ball carriers and makes tackles even when they initially get past him. His ability to break through a double-team and still finish with a sack highlights his strength and effort in the pass rush.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While West effectively removes blockers and holds his ground, I'd like to see more pass-rush moves from him. He must devise moves to beat bigger offensive linemen if he stays on the edge at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, West has the size and strength to compete at the next level, but refining his pass-rush arsenal and increasing his playmaking ability will determine his ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1611626' first='Brian' last='Guerrero'] | 6-1 | 235 | Edgewood | MD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1611626' first='Brian' last='Guerrero'] is an explosive, high-motor defender who thrives on speed and quickness. His first step off the ball is a major asset, allowing him to blow past offensive linemen before they can get their hands on him. Guerrero is a game-wrecker when left unblocked, consistently disrupting plays in the backfield and making quarterbacks uncomfortable. His ability to bend around the edge and get underneath blockers shows that he has some natural pass-rushing ability beyond just pure speed. Guerrero also displays good lateral movement, covering ground quickly to chase down plays from behind or shoot gaps to stop the run. While his highlights focus on his pass-rush ability, there are glimpses of solid hand usage, showing he can keep offensive linemen from engaging him fully.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If he stays on the edge, Guerrero's size could be a limiting factor at the next level. His ability to disengage from well-positioned blockers needs more evaluation. I'd also like to see how well Guerrero can set the edge against the run. He's a twitchy, explosive pass rusher off the edge. Adding more pass-rush moves to his arsenal, paired with his explosiveness, will help counter any size disadvantage when facing bigger offensive linemen at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853976' first='Tristan' last='Lux'] | 6-1 | 250 | Mt. Zion Prep | MD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 15<strong><br></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853976' first='Tristan' last='Lux'] missed most of the season due to injury, but his limited film showcases a powerful, physically imposing defender with an aggressive style of play. His game is built on strength and forward momentum, making him a difficult player to stop when rushing downhill. Lux has also shown flashes of technical ability, utilizing an up-and-under and a spin move to beat blockers and pressure quarterbacks. His ability to shed blocks, whether from offensive tackles or H-backs, allows him to be disruptive in the backfield. Even in a short sample size, Lux demonstrates the physicality needed to take on contact and still generate pressure, making him an effective pass rusher and run defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Given his physical build and playstyle, Lux could transition to playing as an interior defensive lineman if he adds more weight. His power-driven approach could be effective as a three-technique defensive tackle, where his strength and leverage would allow him to excel against guards and centers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lux's film is limited due to injury, so there's not much to evaluate him on as far as dropping into coverage or making plays in open-field situations. Seeing him on the camp circuit will better evaluate his lateral quickness and overall athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other articles to read</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland&nbsp; 2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/"><strong>Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/scouting-the-ranked-2026-maryland-prospects-running-backs/">Scouting the ranked 2026 Maryland prospects: Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-evaluating-wrs-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: Evaluating WR's in the MD 2026 Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->