Evaluating new gems in updated 2027 Maryland rankings: Edges

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest Class of 2027 football rankings for the state of Maryland have been released, and several dozen gems have been uncovered. Over the following several articles, I'll spotlight some prospects who have earned some shine in the latest version of the 2027 rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1129033"],"_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-67c77b468cee7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Joe Johnson is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound edge defender who plays with relentless effort and physicality. He thrives on his aggressive pursuit of the football, using power to finish plays. Johnson's highlights show his ability to come off the edge and assist in sacks. His high motor and physical toughness allowed him to shed blocks effectively, as demonstrated when he fought off a blocker and stopped a running back near the line of scrimmage. Johnson also showcases strong instincts and play recognition, as shown in one play where he shot the gap on the goal line and made a safety. His pass-rushing arsenal includes a swim move that helped him pressure the quarterback, leading to an incomplete pass. Johnson also has the strength to fight through double teams to contribute to tackles in the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson plays with good pad level and leverage at the line of scrimmage. However, his size makes him somewhat undersized compared to typical edge rushers. Johnson's power and effort help him compensate, but working on making his first step even quicker can help neutralize any size disadvantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631814"],"_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-67c77b468cf7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1631814' first='Ole' last='Zwetsloot'] is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound edge defender with power, relentlessness, and a high motor. His ability to disengage from blockers quickly and effectively allows him to make plays across the field, whether rushing the passer or tracking down ball carriers. Zwetsloot displays strong awareness, as seen in one of his highlights where he recognized a screen pass mid-rush, shed his blocker, and made a tackle near the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zwetsloot's pursuit is another standout trait. He shows his hustle in one play by chasing down a scrambling quarterback after initially taking on an offensive lineman. Zwetsloot's explosiveness off the line of scrimmage is also demonstrated in several plays, where he shoots the gap and makes a tackle in the backfield on a running back. As a pass rusher, he combines quickness with a powerful bull rush that puts offensive linemen on their heels, and his violent, active hands make it difficult for blockers to control him. Zwetsloot's ability to generate pressure also forces mistakes, as he rushed the quarterback into throwing an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While he disengages well, adding to his pass-rush move repertoire will make him an even more effective pass-rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631074"],"_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-67c77b468cfed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kobey Warren is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound linebacker with versatility and athleticism. His experience as a wide receiver translates well to the defensive side of the ball, showcasing his agility, closing speed, and ability to track the ball in coverage. As an edge defender, he demonstrates discipline, maintaining his position and staying patient on plays that develop away from him, allowing him to capitalize when the ball comes back his way. Warren has the speed to close quickly on ball carriers, as seen on a play where he shot into the backfield unblocked to secure a tackle for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren's ability to drop into zone coverage and defend the pass is also shown in his highlights. There's a play where he covered a slot receiver over the middle, deflecting the pass. That shows his range and awareness. Though Warren's highlight reel features only a tiny sample of his work as an edge defender, his potential is clear, and his ability to play both standing up and with his hand in the dirt makes him a versatile defensive asset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Warren's primary concern is his frame, as he is leaner for a linebacker. With more reps and physical growth, he has the potential to be a dynamic presence on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930530"],"_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-67c77b468d03b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='930530' first='Blake' last='Griffith'] is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound edge defender who also plays middle linebacker, bringing a combination of power, technique, and versatility to the defensive front. He is an aggressive pass rusher who uses finesse and power moves to beat offensive linemen. There's one play where Griffith sets up an offensive tackle with an outside fake before cutting inside to pressure the quarterback. His ability to shed blocks quickly allows him to be a disruptive force against both the pass and the run. Griffith also has solid hand usage and control at the point of attack. Griffith sets the edge effectively, holding his ground against offensive tackles and preventing ball carriers from bouncing outside. His relentless motor and athleticism enable him to chase down plays from the backside. Griffith is also a solid special-teams contributor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If Griffith can continue to improve his explosiveness off the snap, it could elevate his game further. Adding more pass-rush moves to his repertoire will make him more complicated to block. Griffith has the tools to be a disruptive and well-rounded defensive presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1349588"],"_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-67c77b468d07b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1349588' first='Grant' last='Altuner'] is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound edge defender who showcases impressive quickness and versatility along the defensive line. While primarily an edge rusher, his explosiveness off the ball stands out even more when lined up inside, where he uses his speed advantage to shoot gaps and disrupt the backfield. Atluner's ability to bend around offensive tackles on outside rushes makes him a dangerous pass rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Altuner's ability to line up both outside and as a 3-tech adds to his value. His quick first step allows him to beat interior linemen for sacks and tackles for loss. He is a sure tackler who closes on ball carriers quickly, rarely overruns play and remains disciplined in pursuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While Altuner's quickness is a significant asset, adding more strength and power to his game will help him hold his ground against bigger offensive linemen, especially when playing inside. He has a natural pass-rush ability but could expand his move set to become more unpredictable when attacking blockers. With his current skill set and room for growth, Altuner has the potential to be a dynamic and disruptive defensive lineman at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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/evaluating-marylands-top-2026-running-back-prospects-part-2/">Evaluating the ranked 2026 running backs: Part 1</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 --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-new-edge-defenders-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-the-newcomers-to-the-md-2026-rankings-quarterbacks/">Evaluating Quarterbacks in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-tight-ends-in-the-updated-maryland-2026-rankings/">Evaluating Tight Ends in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-3a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 3A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-2a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 2A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-1a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 1A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-1/"><strong>DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-2/">DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/marylands-class-of-2027-in-depth-analysis-of-the-top-5/">Maryland's Class of 2027: In-Depth Analysis of the Top 5</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->