CJ Edwards

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 230 lbs. Taller than 21% and heavier than 37% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

Edwards wins on the edge with length, not power. He aligns wide, uses his reach to get into blockers first and works around the tackle's outside shoulder. Against the run he relies on length to set the edge rather than anchoring. He is more effective chasing from the backside and closing on plays strung outside than taking on blocks head-on. His snap count was limited behind a deep Bergen Catholic defensive line before he transferred to St. Joseph for his senior season, so his tape shows more traits than finished technique.

Strengths

• Length and height (6-4/6-5) let him make first contact with long arms and win the reach battle against high school tackles. That is the main trait behind his offers from Michigan, Minnesota, UNC, Pitt, West Virginia, Boston College and Duke.
• His frame has a lot of room to grow. At roughly 215 lbs he can add significant weight without losing the bend and burst that make him a natural edge, which is the developmental profile Garner and Chop Harbin have favored at Tennessee.
• He has played the stand-up LEO role, so he already fits Tennessee's multiple front. He has the experience to rush from a two-point stance and drop occasionally into the flat.

Areas to Improve

• Strength and weight: at 210-218 lbs he will get washed out by down blocks and double teams. Holding the point of attack against SEC tackles requires a full strength-and-conditioning cycle, probably two.
• Production and pass-rush plan: his verified junior output at Bergen Catholic was modest (12 tackles, 2.5 sacks). He needs a counter-move package beyond pure length and speed, plus better pad level and hand usage, to turn his physical tools into consistent pressure.

College Projection

Expect a redshirt in 2026 focused on weight gain, with special-teams reps as the most realistic early role. If he reaches roughly 240-245 lbs, he could join the LEO/edge rotation as a redshirt sophomore in 2027-28 and compete for a larger role in years three and four. Whether he becomes a starter depends mostly on how well he adds weight and strength.

Best Fit

A Power 4 program with a patient strength staff and a multiple or hybrid front that uses a stand-up LEO/rush end, where his length is valuable and he doesn't need to play heavy right away. Tennessee's front under Garner, with its history of developing long, lean edge rushers, is close to an ideal fit, provided he gets two years to build weight before facing major snaps.