Most-Feared Pass-Rushers in 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through five weeks of the 2025 season, defensive linemen and linebackers have gotten after the quarterback and disrupted offenses with tackles-for-loss. Which of the top pass-rushers have wreaked enough havoc to strike fear into QBs and ball-carriers everywhere? Here are five that standout among the rest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241540"],"_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-68dd5ed39c087"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A stalwart defender in the middle of the defense for the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/team-database/?team_name=&amp;class%5B%5D=3A">No. 7 team in 3A</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='1241540' first='Jaxon' last='Anderson'] has racked up some hefty numbers for Mount Vernon this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike a prototypical middle linebacker that piles up tackles throughout the season and not posting the flashier stats on defense, Anderson has gotten after the quarterback in the Mustangs' first five games. Between his 12.5 TFLs and five sacks -- not to mention his 45-yard pick-six against Fort Madison in Week Four -- Anderson sits atop the scouting report for teams that travel to the town of just over 4,500 that's situated 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1924004"],"_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-68dd5ed39c129"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The lone sophomore on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='1924004' first='Eaghan' last='Fleshman'] of Alburnett leads the class of 2028 in TFLs with 16, while sitting just behind second-year <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/defensive-stock-risers-through-three-weeks/">defensive stock-riser</a> from Mount Pleasant, [player_tooltip player_id='1849099' first='Isaiah' last='Lange'] (seven) in sacks with 6.5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a productive freshman campaign with the Pirates where he posted 22.5 tackles and five TFLs, Fleshman has taken his game to a completely different level in his second year of varsity football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second part of an offensive-defensive duo with running back and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/offensive-stock-risers-through-three-weeks/">offensive stock-riser</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='1901425' first='Laken' last='Caves'], the pair of underclassmen have been a critical part of the Pirates' 4-1 start to the 2025 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1923999"],"_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-68dd5ed39c1aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Newly established on the scene, [player_tooltip player_id='1923999' first='Damion' last='Nowman'] of Saydel has been dominant to start his junior campaign. One of the few bright spots for a struggling Eagles squad, Nowman has already registered 7.5 sacks to tie for the lead in 3A in sacks and sits atop the class in TFLs with 17. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After posting 34 tackles and three TFLs during his sophomore season, Nowman grew and inch and gained ten pounds in the offseason and has since asserted himself as one of the top pass-rushers in the entire state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["856075"],"_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-68dd5ed39c228"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top linebacker recruits in the Midwest, Dreshaun Ross has opted to pursue wrestling, as he chose to commit Oklahoma State earlier this year. However, the future grappler has remained one of the fiercest competitors in the state on the gridiron, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After missing his junior season due to injury, Ross has stepped on the field with a chip on his shoulder and a mean streak. With 18 TFLs, Ross is tied for the state lead in the category, adding four sacks to his resume. Ross's future may entail spending the majority of his time on the mat, but, for now, he remains dominant on the gridiron. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1923993"],"_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-68dd5ed39c2a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ross's running mate for the state-lead in TFLs, [player_tooltip player_id='1923993' first='Wyatt' last='Stalzer'] is right up there with the lauded linebacker, also having posted 18 TFLs to start the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A senior for East Marshall, this isn't Stalzer's first rodeo. Putting up 82.5 total tackles last year to go with 18.5 TFLs, Stalzer already had already put up some gaudy numbers for the Mustangs. Somehow, a year later, he's on track to blow those numbers out of the water. Having also posted 5.5 sacks, Stalzer is set to have one of the best seasons the state has seen from a pass-rushing perspective. Largely a D2 recruit, any program would be lucky to bring in such a menace on the front lines of the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->