10 Rural Pass Rushers To Know

We're in the middle of our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/johnston-harnett-county-qb-deep-dive/">Deep Dives</a> series, highlighting some of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/franklin-nash-wilson-county-qb-deep-dive/">top players by county</a> in some of the state's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/deep-dive-top-7-wake-county-rbs/">biggest metro areas</a>. But here at Prep Redzone, we don't just cover players in the big cities. There are a plethora of talented players in some of North Carolina's more rural areas. Here, we're highlighting 10 pass rushers to know outside of those metro areas.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">10 Talented Rural Pass Rushers</h2>   Editor's Note: "Rural" can have several meanings. For our purposes here, I primarily mean that these playmakers live outside of the state's main metro areas and play for teams at the 4A level or below.   [player_tooltip player_id='2144430' first='D'Marcus' last='Powell'] | North Edgecomb | 2028   Powell has freakish metrics, and at 6'6", 210 with speed, he could have a future on either side of the ball. Most edge rushers didn't average 20 yards per reception as a receiver in 2025, but Powell did that and racked up eight sacks while playing in a run-heavy conference.   [player_tooltip player_id='1570183' first='Isaiah' last='Leonard'] | West Davidson | 2027   We originally ranked Leonard as an off-ball linebacker, but the rising senior showed enough with his hand in the dirt as a junior to warrant a position change to edge rusher. His first step is among the best in the state, and the standout from Davidson County should rank among the 3A sack leaders in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='2141097' first='Jackson' last='Bodenhamer'] | North Stokes | 2027   Bodenhamer actually earned more accolades last year as a receiver than as a defender, and that surprises me a bit. He had eight sacks and 17 tackles for loss, primarily as a standup linebacker. But he's not just an occasional blitzer, and he can function as a traditional edge rusher, too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1678650' first='Kadence' last='Pruitt'] | Reidsville | 2027   Pruitt could end up a national recruit by the time the 2026 season is over, as he's already grown both in stature and in talent. After garnering a few early offers, the Reidsville standout upped his game as a junior and sits inside the top 55 of our 2027 rankings. His get-off is ridiculous, and he was massive in last season's 4A state championship game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2144439' first='Keshon' last='Sanders'] | Thomasville | 2027   Sanders lined up anywhere and everywhere for Thomasville last season, ultimately finishing the season with double-digit sacks. He's an explosive athlete who can beat blockers with pure speed and get-off, but still has the power to blow up blocks and make plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='901324' first='Mekhi' last='Chavis'] | Warren County | 2027   When we hear the word "pass rusher," our minds immediately go to edge rushers, but Chavis proves that some interior linemen can get after the quarterback, too. Now, to be fair, he's versatile enough to line up anywhere from outside the tackle to 0-technique for Warren County, and he's put up at least five sacks in three straight seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='1717322' first='Steven' last='Elliott'] | Perquimans County | 2027   Elliott is on the leaner side, but he's so quick that most offensive tackles have trouble getting hands on him. He has superb bend, and he's able to explode out of his pass-rushing moves to finish plays. With over 20 career sacks, he's one of the most productive pass rushers in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams'] | Shelby | 2028   Playing in the football-rich Cleveland County, Williams has the highest upside of any pass rusher in the state, full stop. He's long and explosive, and his bend is impressive for his height. He was a stronger run defender than pass rusher in 2025, but as he adjusts to the weight he's added, we expect a massive season from the future FBS recruit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1884222' first='Zakari' last='Woods'] | Northside-Pinetown | 2029   A multisport athlete, Woods is just getting started on the football field, and he may not be finished growing either. A long, lean edge rusher, Woods helped lead Northside-Pinetown to a 1A Regional Final on a defense that allowed less than 10 points per game during a 12-game winning streak.   [player_tooltip player_id='1853840' first='Zalik' last='Cannady'] | Wilson Prep | 2029   Cannady is a massive edge rusher, especially for the 1A level, and his raw power as a freshman was impressive. He's one of our top defensive linemen in the class of 2029, and he proved his pass-rushing prowess as a freshman with 13 sacks.   This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film, re-evaluate prospects, and change our minds about players. Send your film on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you. Don't miss out on everything Prep Redzone has to offer. Our 7-Day free trial offer runs from March 5-9.

We're in the middle of our Deep Dives series, highlighting some of the top players by county in some of the state's biggest metro areas. But here at Prep Redzone, we don't just cover players in the big cities. There are a plethora of talented players in some of North Carolina's more rural areas. Here, we're highlighting 10 pass rushers to know outside of those metro areas.