Best high school football edge rushers in the nation entering the 2023 season
It's hard to believe it, but the 2023 high school football season is right around the corner.
Several states start their season in just a couple of weeks, so SBLive Sports has been highlighting some of the best players in the nation.
Over the past few weeks, we've been taking a position-by-position look at some of the best of the best in high school football.
We started with defensive backs, quarterbacks, athletes, kickers, offensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers, and now we’ll feature some of the biggest menaces to quarterbacks: the edge rushers.
Tyler Atkinson, soph., Grayson (Georgia)
Atkinson entered high school with much hype, and he quickly proved why. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder led Grayson with eight sacks as a freshman last year, and has quickly become one of the most feared pass rushers in the state and beyond.
Iose Epenesa, jr., Edwardsville (Illinois)
The younger brother of AJ Epenesa, a former Iowa standout drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Iose Epenesa is the top-ranked junior in Illinois. As a sophomore last season, Epenesa led Edwardsville with six sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Zion Grady, jr., Charles Henderson (Alabama)
Grady showed out last year as a sophomore, finishing the season with 22 sacks and 37 tackles for loss. Along with in-state powers Alabama and Auburn, he is being recruited by Florida State, Tennessee and more.
Marquise Lightfoot, sr., Kenwood Academy (Illinois)
On3, 247Sports and Rivals all consider Lightfoot a top 10 edge rusher in the country for the class of 2024. In addition to 122 total tackles, the four-star Miami commit posted nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss as a junior.
Kellen Lindstrom, sr., Glendale (Missouri)
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Lindstrom looks the part and backs it up with his game, as he is an absolute force coming off the edge. The four-star recruit chose Tennessee over Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and others.
Darien Mayo, sr., Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland)
There aren’t many 6-foot-7 football players, and even fewer possess the speed and strength of Mayo. The Clemson commit is a sight to behold when he’s coming off the edge and going for the quarterback.
Booker Pickett Jr., sr., Wharton (Florida)
Pickett racked up 30 sacks as a junior, including a pair of games with five sacks, and 16 tackles for loss. The uncommitted four-star prospect is being pursued by Miami, Ohio State, Florida State and more.
Brian Robinson, sr., Westerville North (Ohio)
Robinson recorded seven sacks as a junior playing for Austintown Fitch, and that number should increase this season playing for Westerville North. The consensus four-star recruit holds offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State and more.
Jordan Ross, sr., Vestavia Hills (Alabama)
Among the four major recruiting services, Ross ranks no lower than No. 6 in the country among edge rushers in the class of 2024. Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are among the contenders to land the 6-foot-5, 220-pound edge rusher.
Elijah Rushing, sr., Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Rushing put up 11.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss as a junior and has 19 sacks over the past two years. In July, the Tucson product decided he will stay home for college and became the highest-ranked commit in Arizona Wildcats history.
Colin Simmons photo by Tommy Hays
Colin Simmons, sr., Duncanville (Texas)
A consensus five-star recruit who is ranked the nation’s No.1 edge rusher in the class of 2024 by three of the four major recruiting brands, Simmons was named the SBLive All-North Texas Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 after he put up a whopping 22.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss.
Jacob Smith, sr., Cheshire Academy (Connecticut)
Smith is one half of a dynamic duo on the defensive line for Cheshire — and soon to be Michigan. His brother Jerod, a four-star defensive lineman, committed to the Wolverines in April, and Jacob followed suit in July.
Dylan Stewart, sr., Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, DC)
A consensus five-star recruit and top-three edge rusher in the class of 2024, Stewart tallied 16 sacks as a junior. The prized prospect took official visits to Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and South Carolina in June.
Loghan Thomas, sr., Paetow (Texas)
The four-star Notre Dame commit is in line for a big senior year with Paetow losing five-star defensive lineman DJ Hicks to Texas A&M. Over the past two seasons as a sophomore and junior, Thomas recorded 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Zayden Walker, jr., Schley County (Georgia)
The five-star recruit is ranked the nation’s No. 1 edge rusher in the class of 2025 by all four of the major recruiting services. He only had three sacks as a sophomore last year, but he wreaked havoc with two interceptions, two caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Jamonta Waller, sr., Picayune (Mississippi)
Waller finished his junior campaign with 11.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. The nation’s No. 5 linebacker in the class of 2024 is one of the top commits in what is shaping up to be a loaded recruiting class for the Florida Gators.
Ari Watford, jr., Maury (Virginia)
Watford has the makings to be one of the top edge rushers in the country over the next two years. During the offseason, the rising junior picked up offers from Texas, Clemson, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame and more.
Mylachi Williams, sr., Monsignor Bonner (Pennsylvania)
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound edge rusher had 11 sacks and 25 tackles for loss as a junior. He committed to Penn State in July, choosing the Nittany Lions over Pitt, Syracuse, Notre Dame and more.
Solomon Williams, sr., Carrollwood Day (Florida)
One of the top returning players in the Sunshine State, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound edge rusher came up with 15 sacks and 32 tackles for loss as a junior. The four-star recruit recently dropped his top seven schools, featuring Oregon, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Texas, Clemson and UCF.
Nasir Wyatt, jr., Mater Dei (California)
Last but not least, Wyatt led one of the top teams in the country with 13 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. The No. 1 junior in California, according to On3 and 247Sports, has USC, Alabama, Georgia and more top college programs coming after him.
