Gang Green Nation
How to watch: Sat, 10/25 , 3:30 PM/EST – ESPN
With the college season deep into its second half, the edge rusher class is beginning to take shape and two names NFL scouts are circling this week are Damon Wilson of Georgia and Zion Young of Missouri. Both have intriguing draft traits and a chance to make a statement against Vanderbilt’s offense this weekend.
Damon Wilson, a former five-star recruit, has gradually worked his way into Georgia’s defensive rotation and is starting to flash the traits that made him one of the most coveted high school pass rushers in the nation. At 6’2”, 240 pounds, Wilson brings a compact, explosive frame with first-step quickness that jumps off the tape. His ability to bend the edge and convert speed to power is what gives him legitimate NFL upside. The biggest question scouts have is consistency his pass rush plan can stall out after his first move, but when he times it right, he looks every bit like a Day 2 prospect with the ceiling to climb even higher.
On the other side, Zion Young is quietly becoming one of the more overlooked names in the 2026 edge class. The Missouri standout brings length and hand discipline that show up in run defense and on stunts. At 6’6”, 260, he has the frame teams love, but it’s his motor that sets him apart. Young plays every down like it’s his last something that translates well to the kind of high effort front Aaron Glenn’s Jets would covet. Against Vanderbilt, expect Young to be tested by quick throws and tempo, but it’s also a great chance for him to show improved counters and closing burst.
Both Wilson and Young fit into the Jets’ long term defensive outlook as potential developmental edges who could thrive opposite Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald. Depth and rotation quality guys are always at a premium in a system built around pass rush waves. Wilson’s twitch and upside could appeal to Mougs if he slides into Day 2 range, while Young’s versatility and physical maturity make him an intriguing mid round fit.
