2026 Rankings Update 4.0: EDGE

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"5926","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-677328df625b2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With another high school football season behind us in the state of Kentucky, it is time for another round of rankings updates! After wrapping up the class of 2025, we have now moved to the class of 2026. With the newest rankings update for 2026 class being officially posted, I've been taking the past couple weeks to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line already being taken care of, here are our top edge defenders in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283954"],"_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-677328df63d37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='283954' first='Baron' last='Hardesty'] is a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a junior. Hardesty was very disruptive off the edge as a pass rusher this season, exploding out of his stance and using his speed to blow right by opposing offensive tackles. He also showed the ability to defeat blocks with pass rush moves and use his bend to get around the edge with ease. Hardesty finished the year with 15 sacks in 11 games. He also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing his junior year with 61 tackles and 20 tackles for loss. Baron doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971527"],"_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-677328df63d8f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971527' first='Stryker' last='Davidson'] is another edge defender who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. He had a very strong first year at GRC where he was dominant against the run. Davidson lined up as a stand-up defensive end/outside linebacker and was able to use his speed to burst into the backfield and make the tackle before opposing ball carriers could get going. He led his team with 96 tackles and 27 tackles for loss in 12 games. Stryker also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the year with six sacks and one interception which he returned for a touchdown. Davidson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have their eyes on heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1175815"],"_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-67732b85b4df5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1175815' first='Malik' last='Coburn'] is a player who jumped onto our radar with a very impressive junior year. Coburn was very dominant off the edge as a pass rusher, exploding out of his stance and using his strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. He finished the regular season with 9.5 sacks in 15 games. Malik was also very impressive against the run, showing the ability to shed blocks with ease then use his speed to get to the ball carrier and make the tackle in the open field. He finished his junior year with 92 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss. Coburn doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who should be on the radars of college coaches heading into his final season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1562264"],"_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-6773427c5202f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1562264' first='John' last='Luke Minner'] is another edge defender who stood out to us with a strong junior season. He was very impressive as a pass rusher off the edge. Minner has a quick first step out of his stance which he converts into speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease. Once he gets to the quarterback, he does a great job of finishing, coming away with 12 sacks in 15 games this season. He also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing the year with 40 tackles and three tackles for loss. Minner doesn't currently hold any offers but he should definitely be a player to watch moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773225"],"_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-6773427c520bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five edge defenders in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='773225' first='Jake' last='Crump']. Crump was very impressive against the run this season, showing the ability to read the play quickly then use his speed to get to the ball carrier and make the tackle before they can get going. He finished the year with 113 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. Crump also finished the season with two sacks and made an impact on offense, catching four passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Jake doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player to keep an eye on heading into his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->