Top 5 Edge Rushers in Franklin/Nash/Wilson County

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've spent the month of March working our way through the best players by position in 11 counties around the Triangle. We started the defensive positions on Monday, and we're rounding out the defensive line rankings with the best edge rushers in Franklin/Nash/Wilson County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Edge Rushers in Franklin/Nash/Wilson County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: The ranked edge rushers are listed in order from first to fifth. Other names are in no particular order. Rankings reflect a combination of 2025 production and predicted 2026 impact.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Other Franklin/Nash/Wilson County Deep Dives:</em><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/franklin-nash-wilson-county-qb-deep-dive/">QBs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-7-rbs-in-franklin-nash-wilson-county/">RBs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-6-wrs-in-franklin-nash-wilson-county/">WRs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/deep-dive-top-10-tes-in-rdu/">RDU TEs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-6-ol-in-franklin-nash-wilson-county/">OL</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-5-idls-in-franklin-nash-wilson-county/">IDLs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1610537"],"_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-69bdfc211c9ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James is the alpha in the area after racking up 11 sacks for a dominant Hunt front seven in the Warriors' march to the 5A State Championship Game. He's put on some good weight in recent months, and that's helped him to not only hold up, but to thrive against the run. He can win with speed or power, and he excels at finishing plays and putting quarterbacks on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2110733"],"_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-69bdfc211ca41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">West flew a bit under the radar last season, but is one of the top returning pass rushers in the area. He picked up nearly 10 sacks last season for Northern Nash, flashing speed and power. He had some good tape against the run, and as he's just a rising junior, he has plenty of time to grow as a player in that area. He's one to watch at the edge position in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2113127"],"_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-69bdfc211ca9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bynum didn't get the recognition that some of his Hunt teammates did last season, including from us, and that's not really his fault. He might be the most complete edge rusher on the roster (and that's a huge compliment given the talent around him). He's a really smart player who can set the edge and makes a ton of plays at the mesh point of zone reads, in addition to having an above-average first step off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1632718"],"_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-69bdfc211caf5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis has excellent upside as an off-ball linebacker, but he was most often used as a standup edge rusher on Bunn's undersized but effective front. I'm interested to see what role he plays in 2026 as the Wildcats lose several linebackers, but return the majority of the front four. He has the speed to crash the edge and make plays in the running game, and this offseason should only help him become a complete defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Paxton Vick","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Faith Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bdfc211cbd3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Primarily a receiver at the 8-man level, Vick is also quite the edge rusher, a guy who isn't afraid to mix it up with bigger players. A multisport athlete, Vick can win with speed, and he's shown plenty of toughness. Faith Christina made a semifinal last season, and if Vick takes the next step in his development, it could help the Patriots go even further this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Names To Know</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2116752' first='Elijah' last='Horton']</strong> | Nash Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kileak Pittman</strong> | Rocky Mount</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>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. Deep Dives continue over the coming weeks before our spring rankings update.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->