Positional Analysis: New Wave of Best Available Edge Rushers

The Cypress product is one of the more under-rated players at his position across the state and is a true 4-down defensive lineman that can play anywhere along the front and is extremely powerful and violent at the point of attack. He has a quick first step, natural bend around the edge and has a quick and violent inside punch and plays with great leverage when shocking/shedding and can quickly get off blocks in space and pursue backside. He also shows closing speed, change of direction and good pass rush abilities with plenty of both power and speed rush tools to turn the corner. Overall, he is a very technically sound player that could kick inside at the next level and currently holds one offer from Cal Poly with other FCS+ schools surely to be on the way soon.     The Clovis East product is one of the top players on the edge in the 2028 class across California, and he should see plenty of FBS offers flying in through his junior season and through the fall. He is a twitchy and explosive player with a quick first step, quick hands and natural bend/hip turn around the corner and can collapse the pocket quickly and counter back inside when needed. He is strong and powerful against the run, has a quick lockout and plays with good eyes and the ability to take on double teams/drive blocks with ease. McDermott is always round the ball, reads blocks quickly and already has a few pass rush moves in his toolbox as a young player. Fresno State has already offered and he should draw plenty of P4 attention as well as his recruitment starts to pickup.     Laratte is one of the top pass rushers across the central valley and is a fast and explosive player off the ball with violent hands, good sudden power and bend around the corner while able to win with both speed and power. He shows a high IQ when sniffing out plays, can set the edge and take on pullers while wining with active hands, natural shoulder/hip turn at the top of his rush and can close quickly with long strides and range in the backfield. Currently he holds one offer from Sac State and he should draw plenty of other FCS attention through his final year and be atop the sack leaders across the section by the time it's all said and done.     Lilo is one of the top defenders across the region heading into his senior year and has a huge frame with plenty of room for growth and development at the college level. He is strong and powerful at the point, can quickly reset the line and take on blockers without losing ground and moves well for his size in space, changes direction with ease and can make plays in open space/knife into the backfield. Lilo is a strong tackler, plays with good leverage and violent hands and can quickly jack up blockers at the first level and is a very balanced player against the run and when transitioning to pass rush. He has been a bit under-recruited so far and should draw plenty of next level interest once his senior yer gets underway.     Goldsworthy is a young but talented edge player and should really breakout during his junior season in 2026. He has a long and lean frame with the ability to pack on weight to it over the next two years and should fit nicely as a true defensive end by the time he graduates and goes to the next level. He is athletic, bendy around the corner and has good length to keep blockers away from his chest and has closing speed in space while a plus athlete for the defensive front. Although a still developing player, he has some good untapped potential and upside once he grows into his frame and packs on some weight and should be a new name to note across the Bay Area this fall.