Oregon Lightning Beef Up the Defensive Line for 2026 — Quarterbacks Are Officially on Notice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oregon Lightning Beef Up the Defensive Line for 2026 — Quarterbacks Are Officially on Notice

Redmond, OR — The Oregon Lightning are coming into the 2026 season with one message loud and clear: the trenches belong to us. With a wave of top-tier signings, the Lightning have stacked the defensive line with size, speed, and serious experience—setting the tone for a season built on pressure, power, and punishment.

Leading the charge is Javier Edwards (DT/NG), standing at 6'3 330lbs, a former University of Colorado standout who brings next-level experience to Redmond after spending a season with the Houston Texans. Edwards adds veteran strength in the middle and the kind of presence that makes offenses rethink everything they want to do up front.

At the Florida Scouting Combine in early January, Head Coach Chuck Jones struck again landing a pair of edge rushers built to cause chaos.

Rodney Greene Jr. (DE) — University of North Texas, standing 6’4”, 260 lbs. of pure force off the edge.
Isiah Pedack (DE) — Mississippi Valley State, measuring 6’4”, 265 lbs., bringing size, power, and relentless pursuit.

And Lightning fans will love this one: Knoa Smith, two-way player out of Arkansas, is returning to the Oregon Lightning after a short stint with the Squatch during the 2025 season. He’s back, he’s hungry, and he knows exactly what it takes to bring energy to this defense.

This isn’t just “adding depth.” This is building a wall. This is turning up the heat. This is the Oregon Lightning defense gearing up to hunt.

Quarterbacks: you’ve been warned.

For tickets, updates, and more, visit: https://www.theoregonlightning.com

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