Reston Lehman

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 230 lbs. Taller than 94% and heavier than 94% of 2026 Linebacker prospects in the SEC Scouts database (207 with a listed size).

Play Style

He plays with a high motor from a two-point stance. He works off blocks rather than overpowering them, attacks the ball and does a lot of damage after first contact (forced fumbles, recoveries, the title-clinching play). He can drop into zone or man coverage from the edge. His coach credited lacrosse with sharpening his man-to-man coverage, which makes him a useful piece for simulated pressures where the defender who looks like a rusher drops and a linebacker or DB blitzes. He is at his best in chaotic, disruptive situations and chasing plays from the backside.

Strengths

• Versatile playmaker who produces more than sacks: as a junior he had 4 sacks, 11 TFL, 3 INT, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries (all-state). Three interceptions from an edge player show real awareness when dropping into coverage and good ball skills.
• Relentless effort. His head coach, TJ Plack, called him 'ferocious' and said he 'goes to the whistle and battles to the very end.' He was the centerpiece of a Class 5A-best defense that allowed about 6 points per game, including a 3-sack game in the WPIAL semifinal against Upper St. Clair.
• Experienced and ready for college: 39 high school starts, two WPIAL title-game appearances and one title as a sophomore before winning the 2025 title. He enrolled early, and Pat Narduzzi has publicly said he can push for playing time as a true freshman.

Areas to Improve

• Weight and strength at the point of attack. At 235 lb he will get washed out against the run by 300-plus-lb ACC tackles. His first-year progress depends on adding 15-25 lb of good weight while keeping his first step and bend.
• Pass-rush moves. His high school production came largely from effort, athleticism and a two-man edge rush with Lucas Shanafelt that offenses couldn't slow down on both sides. He needs to develop a go-to move plus a counter, along with better hand use, to win one-on-one against college tackles instead of relying on hustle and cleanup sacks.

College Projection

He's a defensive end in Narduzzi's 4-3, which relies on attacking, one-gap edge rushers. Enrolling early gave him spring practice and a full offseason, and camp reports from August 2026 have him competing for snaps. The most likely path for 2026 is special teams plus a spot in the pass-rush rotation, possibly playing in 4 games or fewer to keep a redshirt year. He projects as a rotation end in 2027 and a starter by 2028, when he should weigh about 255 lb. If he doesn't add enough weight, a SAM/Star-style outside linebacker role that uses his coverage skills is a realistic fallback.

NFL Outlook

It's a long-range projection. His length, effort and rare coverage ability for an edge player fit what the NFL wants in a hybrid 3-4 outside linebacker. The athletic testing and pass-rush polish that would lift him above a Day 3 grade haven't been shown yet. If he becomes a multi-year ACC starter at 250-plus lb with 7-plus sacks a season, he is a realistic mid-to-late-round prospect. Otherwise his likely ceiling is a priority free agent who makes a roster through special teams.

Best Fit

An aggressive, attacking front with a patient weight program, where 'wide 9' and 'Star' mean an end aligned well outside the tackle and a hybrid rusher-coverage player. Pitt's Narduzzi 4-3, known for producing defensive linemen, is close to ideal: it develops lightly recruited, high-effort edge players, rewards disruption plays and lets a hybrid end drop into coverage on simulated pressures. His hometown connection and his stated loyalty ('Hail to Pitt') also make him a low transfer risk for a multi-year development plan.