2026 Rankings Watch List: Orange County Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1269651"],"_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-67fdf25680f64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Epstein had 33 tackles, seven for a loss, seven sacks and 11 hurries for Capo Valley last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a read-and-react defensive lineman who isn't explosive off the ball but has other qualities that make him challenging to block. Epstein does a good job getting his arms extended against offensive linemen and is a good hand fighter. He sheds blocks at the line of scrimmage well and is an effective tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283694"],"_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-67fdf25680fc8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seward had 15 tackles with two hurries for Chaparral last season and has since transferred to San Juan Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a nose guard who keeps a low center of gravity and has some power. Seward has the power to drive offensive linemen back but is also good shedding blocks with his hands. He can eat up double teams and make tackles at the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Senior year on the way!! 😤 <a href="https://t.co/yTAd3tCDwx">pic.twitter.com/yTAd3tCDwx</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='283694' first='Xavier' last='Seward'] (@xavier_seward) <a href="https://twitter.com/xavier_seward/status/1910129855880167809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["618154"],"_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-67fdf25681012"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stevens transferred to Edison from Servite and after sitting out the first half of the season, he had 63 tackles with 2.5 sacks for an Edison team that won a state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He can be a defensive end who lines up head up on the tackle or be a 3-technique. Stevens is equally effective as a run stopper as he is a pass rusher. He has good lateral quickness, reads offenses well and can tackle anyone within arm's distance of him. Stevens eats up double teams in the run game, doesn't bite on screens and is a solid hand fighter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Full defensive highlights for my junior season <a href="https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdisonChargerFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTThom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTThom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KaesbauerSonny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KaesbauerSonny</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_BSicilia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_BSicilia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachGavyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachGavyn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamElite91?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamElite91</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PGregorian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PGregorian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsityguy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tarek_Fattal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tarek_Fattal</a> <a href="https://t.co/oPtVAzobzN">pic.twitter.com/oPtVAzobzN</a></p>&mdash; Nathan stevens (@Nathan_stevens_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nathan_stevens_/status/1891603799048872201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->