2026 Edge Rusher Stock-Risers: October

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been working through the stock-risers from our new 2026 rankings update, position by position. I've already gone <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/october-rankings-update-behind-the-scenes-oif-the-2026-class/">behind the scenes</a> on this update, giving fans an idea about our thinking and decisions within the rankings. Here, I'm diving into evaluations for some of our biggest stock-risers at the edge rusher position. Here are our October edge rusher stock-risers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 Edge Rusher Stock-Risers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1433039"],"_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-68e9437d80bd2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Always a strong run defender, Russ has improved as a pass-rusher, and while he's not the best in the state in that category, the upward trajectory is promising. Russ has four sacks through seven games, and he's playing a more traditional edge rusher role now. The length and athleticism are obvious, and as he continues to develop, he's going to intrigue plenty of college programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1717339"],"_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-68e9437d80c36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The benefit of Mountain Island Charter playing a few non-conference games against bigger schools is that we've gotten to see how their top talent performs against tougher competition, even in a few losses. That's been no problem for Eaton, who has 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. He's not the longest edge rusher you'll find, but he's quick off the ball and has a great bull rush.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1699333"],"_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-68e9437d80c7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Few players are having the start to the season that Miller is at West Craven. The Eagles have been a surprise team in the east behind a frighteningly good defense, and Miller has been at the center of that. He moves around the defensive line and leads the Eagles in most major statistical categories, including tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1601648"],"_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-68e9437d80cd5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At his size, Stewart may ultimately end up as a linebacker in our rankings, but he's so quick off the edge that he's still there in our system. He gets off the line in a hurry and doesn't hesitate, hitting ball carriers with force in the backfield. A lot of his highlights are unblocked, but that says more about his quickness than the offensive linemen he's facing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648670"],"_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-68e9437d80d1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eleazer has always been highly rated, as the upside is as high as any player in the state. But he was also raw, winning only off of pure athleticism as a younger player. Now, the growth is obvious. Eleazer has four sacks, on pace for fewer than last year, but he's winning against the run and flashing a high pass-rushing I.Q., both things we wanted to see from him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Expect plenty more from us on the class of 2026 as we provide content on the midseason rankings update. We'll provide new updates for stock-risers and new additions, while continuing our in-season coverage of every classification in the state.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->