Top 7 Edge Rushers in Guilford County

Welcome back to Week 2 of our Triad Deep Dives series, where we rank the top players in Forysth and Guilford Counties. Last week, we covered 58 offensive players between the two counties, with full evaluations on over 45 of them. Now, we're moving to the defensive side of the ball, and I expect these units to be even more loaded. Earlier on Monday, I ranked Forsyth County; now, let's rank the top seven edge rushers in Guilford County.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Edge Rushers in Guilford County</h2>   Editor's Note: The ranked edge rushers are listed in order from first to seventh. Other names in no particular order. Rankings reflect a combination of 2025 production and predicted 2026 impact.   *Get $10 off any <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2214/register/exposure-series-north-carolina">Prep Redzone Camp</a> with Promo Code WillHelms10 at checkout*   Other Guilford County Deep Dives:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/deep-dive-top-6-qbs-in-guilford-county/">QBs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-6-rbs-in-guilford-county/">RBs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-5-wrs-in-guilford-county/">WRs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-5-ol-in-guilford-county/">OL</a>    Rogers transferred over from Dudley before last season to help Grimsley continue its defensive line dominance after the Whirlies lost a couple of key playmakers. The depth of Grimsley's line allowed Rogers to rotate, keeping him fresh for the playoffs. In five playoff games, he racked up four of his eight sacks for the season, and he's turned heads on the recruiting trail with his elite length and strength profile.     Cotton came out of nowhere last season to be one of the state's leading pass rushers. Now, he's far more well-known and isn't flying under the radar anymore. He's a lengthy edge rusher who can rush the passer (obviously) or crash down and attack the running game.     Wardlaw isn't the biggest guy, but he's frighteningly quick out of his stance. He's ranked as a linebacker because that's the position he'll play in college. That being said, I'm not going to be the one to tell Grimsley to move him off the line of scrimmage. He has an explosive first step and is one of the rare edge rushers who uses that to set up his pass-rushing moves, rather than simply moving into a spot. He always seems to be one step ahead of the opposition, and by the time offensive linemen can react, it's too late.     Wardlaw just keeps growing, and it's certainly helped his stock. And credit to the Grimsley coaching staff for putting him in a position he could grow into. Not too long ago, Wardlaw was a scrawny stand-up edge rusher who had to win with I.Q. and pure speed. Now, he's a versatile, inside-out defensive end who can win with strength, moves, or his excellent first step, which he maintained while transforming his body. He's bigger than his brother and has a higher ceiling, but he still doesn't have the full pass-rushing arsenal that Jaiden has, putting Tristan just below him on the rankings.     Solongo might be undersized, but he's one of the most energetic, high-motor pass rushers in the state. He never stops moving and his initial step is one of the best out there. With a bit more size, he'd be one of the best college prospects in the area, and while that may or may not happen, we expect him to have a huge junior season.     Butler burst onto the scene as a freshman pass-rusher for HPCA with 11 sacks as part of their perfect season. He's a high-upside edge rusher with plenty of length, speed, and power. Too bad he's unlikely to be a college edge rusher. Football is his second sport, as the freshman is a standout two-way baseball player with a mid-80s fastball and 100-plus mph exit velocity. Selfishly, I'd love to see him stay on the football field, though, as he has a bright future there.     Burnette had a great season that seemed to fly under the radar for Page. A high-motor pass rusher, he created plenty of havoc last season, not only leading the team in sacks, but also creating multiple quick pressures that led to interceptions. Even more impressive, he had two picks himself on screen passes, where he broke off his rush to put himself in the best position to make a play.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Names To Know</h2>   Shamar Jackson | T.W. Andrews   It's camp season, and we're coming to Charlotte on May 1 for our PRZ Exposure Camp under the lights on a Friday night. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2214/register/exposure-series-north-carolina">Secure your spot</a> and use promo code WillHelms10 at checkout for $10 off. Think we missed someone? DM me on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) with film.

Welcome back to Week 2 of our Triad Deep Dives series, where we rank the top players in Forysth and Guilford Counties. Last week, we covered 58 offensive players between the two counties, with full evaluations on over 45 of them. Now, we're moving to the defensive side of the ball, and I expect these units to be even more loaded. Earlier on Monday, I ranked Forsyth County; now, let's rank the top seven edge rushers in Guilford County.