Defensive Ends/Edge Rushers to Buy Stock in This Season

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.   I'm doing a new series about each position where I find five players whom you and college coaches need to buy stock in. Continuing, I have the defensive ends and edge rushers. Each one is a bit different in their own way, but definitely good enough to buy stock in for this season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    Key Lewis Jr. is just a freshman, but he is already making a name for himself across the state. He's gotten some playing time in Baylor's first two games, where he has impressed everybody around him.   As a young buck, he offers great size. The 2030 prospect stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 260 pounds with a lean, athletic frame. He may turn into an interior defensive lineman, but I think he could be a terrific edge rusher.   He's highly athletic, gets off the ball well, is excellent at shedding blocks, offers pass-rush upside and has elite potential as a run stuffer.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='989275' first='Houston' last='Payne'] is a defender that I've been extremely high on for over a year at this point. He looked good last season, but I think 2026 is when the 2028 prospect breaks out.   He offers nice size, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds with an athletic, lean frame. With his size, I can see Payne playing either edge rusher or defensive end. That said, I like him more as a defensive end.   The junior has a solid bag of pass-rush moves, gets off the ball well, is technically sound, possesses high football instincts and is physical.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1182853' first='Jackson' last='Nichols'] transferred to Knox Webb this offseason and is poised to make a significant impact in 2026.   The junior edge rusher is a tall, long pass rusher. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 230 pounds with an 81-inch wingspan and 10-inch hands. He has the body to be a top-tier defensive lineman.   Nichols is athletic, uses his hands well, offers a good amount of bend, can get after the quarterback at a decent clip and has a high motor.    ---    I first saw [player_tooltip player_id='1648774' first='Clayton' last='Jackson'] this spring when Shayne Pickering and I visited Rockvale. He's already making a big impact for this underrated team, and I expect him to continue to play well.   Jackson offers good size for his age and position, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds. With that size, he could be a true defensive end or an edge rusher.   The 2029 prospect is agile, quick off the ball, sets the edge well, offers a strong bag of pass-rush moves and is a team player.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1665616' first='Dhillon' last='Booker'] is one of the elite in-state defensive prospects. As a true freshman last season, he was highly productive. The sophomore had a good offseason and looks to have taken that next step.   He's a lean, athletic defensive end, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 215 pounds. I would like to see him gain more weight, but Booker is building his body the correct way, which will pay off down the line.   The sophomore is extremely athletic, is technically sound on the defensive line, uses his hands well, offers elite pass-rush upside, plays with a high motor and has strong instincts.

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.