North Carolina Defensive Linemen to Dominate Draft: Who’s Next?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 NFL Draft starts Thursday, and several former North Carolina high schoolers will hear their names called this weekend. More specifically, the 2020 and 2021 high school classes began a trend of dominant defensive linemen. This year, former Prep Redzone prospects <strong>Jalon Walker</strong> and <strong>James Pearce</strong> could be first round picks (Though yes, I did whiff on Pearce). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guys like <strong>Jahvaree Ritzie</strong>, <strong>Zeek Biggers, </strong>and <strong>Aeneas Peebles</strong> could be drafted as well (Peebles is one of my personal draft favorites). The North Carolina high school to NFL pipeline on the defensive line is alive and well. Was that a fluke? Or is it a trend that will continue? There are several current college prospects who could go in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, but which current high school defensive linemen could be future NFL players?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five Future NFL Draft Picks From North Carolina</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1002307' first='Rodney' last='Dunham'], Edge, Myers Park</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunham is a national riser who has been near the very top of our rankings from the beginning. He's so smooth that playing defensive end looks effortless, despite the fact that he's only recently put his focus on football. The college fit here is helpful as well, as Notre Dame has a full-on North Carolina-to-South Bend pipeline with former Tar Heel state guys like <strong>Bryce Young</strong> and fellow class of 2026 players like <strong>Ebenezer Ewetade.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunham's pass-rushing upside is what puts him on this list. To play on Sundays, good players have to continue to develop <em>after </em>they get to college. Dunham is already great, but there's plenty of room for growth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='858648' first='Trashawn' last='Ruffin'], IDL, North Duplin</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of talented guys with room to develop, massive defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='858648' first='Trashawn' last='Ruffin'] might have the highest upside in the class. He's a man amongst boys at a lower classification, but he's developing more and more every day. Once he gets to college, he might need a few years to really grow into a top pass-rusher, but the run-stopping ability gives him a high floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1029786' first='Griff' last='Galloway'], IDL/Edge, Providence Day</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm going down to the 2027 class to look at arguably the best defensive lineman in the state. Galloway could end up a top-10 national recruit, and his versatility and pass-rushing upside give him a good chance to make it to the next level. Galloway can play inside or out and already has a developed body for a college prospect. A year or two in a college weight program could give him the body to partner with unreal athleticism, a recipe for becoming a high draft pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='662372' first='Zavion' last='Griffin-Haynes'], Edge, Rolesville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin-Haynes has unreal length and bend off the edge, but he's not too shabby as a run defender either. He sets the edge well giving him a high floor. The excitement here though is his upside. You just don't find many 6'6" edge rushers who can move like the Rolesville star. Wherever he ends up, his future coaches have a great canvas to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1607430' first='Cory' last='Cunningham'], Edge/IDL, Providence</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's risky to put a guy in the 2028 class on this list, and we might be early here, but it's hard not to imagine Cunningham eventually playing on Sundays. He's already developed his body well and has flashes of outright dominance against quality competition. Cunningham has a high I.Q. and great play strength, two traits that should endear him to some of the best defensive coaches in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want to make sure you're on our radar or raise your stock? Sign up for our&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/1488/register/combine-series-north-carolina"><strong>2025 Spring Combine</strong></a>&nbsp;at Clayton High School on May 4. Use offer code ‘HelmsCombine25′ to get $10 off your registration. Prep Redzone and college scouts will be in attendance to evaluate prospects as they go through combine drills, position work, and 1-on-1s.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->