Kaimon Rucker DE/EDGE North Carolina | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kaimon Rucker DE/EDGE North Carolina
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/01/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.79 seconds (59%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 03/01/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.79 seconds (59%*) | |
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
| Overall Rating: | 83.0 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
72% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
91% |
| Run Defense: |
|
69% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#137
Position rank:
#36
|
||
| College Games: 57 College Snaps: 2399 | ||
ESPN RATING: 74/100
College Combine Results
|
||
|
247 RATING: 83/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jonah Elliss - Utah |
|
89% |
| Tyreke Smith - Ohio State |
|
77% |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah - Kansas State |
|
76% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Tar Heel terror from Hart County, Georgia has been wreaking havoc in ACC backfields since stepping foot on campus in Chapel Hill. Kaimon Rucker arrived at North Carolina as a modest three-star recruit across all major recruiting services but quickly established himself as a defensive cornerstone. The 6'1", 254-pound edge defender played in 57 career games for the Tar Heels, amassing 150 tackles, 22.5 sacks, and 42.5 tackles for loss over his five-season career before a cheap shot against NC State resulted in a cracked fibula that prematurely ended his final campaign.Rucker's ascension reached its apex during his standout 2023 season when he terrorized opposing offenses to the tune of 61 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss, earning Second-Team All-ACC honors. His performance against South Carolina - where he registered eight tackles, two sacks, and an eye-popping 5.5 TFL - showcased his disruptive capabilities and earned him Walter Camp National Player of the Week. Before his 2024 senior season was cut short, Rucker was on pace for a career year with 30 tackles, six sacks, and his first career interception in just six games.
From honorable mention all-state selection at Hart County High School to defensive cornerstone at North Carolina, Rucker's development has been a testament to his work ethic and football acumen. Named to the Jason Witten Man of the Year, Bronko Nagurski, Allstate Wuerffel, and Bednarik Award Watch Lists heading into 2024, Rucker's leadership and character were just as valued as his on-field production. Though his college career didn't end as planned, his tape shows a player whose impact consistently outweighed his measurables.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Nasty first-step quickness allows him to threaten the edge and force tackles into recovery mode – his Virginia tape shows a guy who can cross an offensive tackle's face before they can get set.
- Advanced hand usage and combat techniques enable him to keep bigger blockers from locking onto his frame – he's not waiting for contact, he's initiating it and controlling the engagement point.
- Demonstrates legitimate ankle flexibility when bending the arc, showing the ability to corner at sharp angles without losing speed or balance when turning toward the quarterback.
- Closing burst to the ball carrier is electric – when he identifies the target, he accelerates through contact like he's been shot out of a cannon, particularly evident in his South Carolina performance.
- High-level football intelligence and processing allows him to diagnose play designs quickly – rarely gets fooled by misdirection and consistently makes the right read-and-react decisions.
- Runs hot as a competitor with relentless motor that doesn't idle – his game tape against Miami showed a player who refuses to quit on plays even when initially blocked.
- Tackling technique is clinical with proper wrap-up form, driving legs on contact, and minimal missed opportunities – ball carriers go down when he gets his hands on them.
- Versatile deployment options having lined up in various techniques across UNC's front – comfortable with hand in dirt or standing up, giving defensive coordinators scheme flexibility.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks ideal length which allows longer NFL tackles to land initial strikes before he can engage – struggled notably against taller tackles in the Clemson matchup.
- Gets uprooted against power running schemes when offensive linemen can square him up – too often washed out of his gap when teams run directly at him with double-team concepts.
- Vulnerable against zone blocking schemes that force him to play laterally – shows stiffness when having to redirect and pursue against stretch plays moving away from his initial alignment.
- Counter-rush game looks underdeveloped on tape – when his initial move gets stalled, he too often sticks with it rather than transitioning smoothly to a secondary attack plan.
- Gets tunnel vision when engaged with blockers – loses sight of the ball carrier while fighting to disengage, causing him to miss backside cleanup opportunities that more aware defenders capitalize on.
Scouting Report: Summary
Rucker has "designated pass-rush weapon" written all over him. His film reveals a defender whose primary value lies in his ability to create immediate pressure and disrupt the pocket – a skillset that translates directly to third-down and obvious passing situations at the next level. The stark contrast between his pass-rushing prowess and run defense shortcomings tells the story of a specialized player rather than an every-down force. Teams selecting in the late fourth to early fifth round should have this mid-tier prospect circled as a potential value pick who can contribute immediately in a focused role.The ideal landing spot for Rucker would be with a defense that employs multiple sub-packages and values specialized role players. I watched Rucker repeatedly demonstrate an uncanny ability to bend the edge and close on quarterbacks; that's not something you can teach. His medical evaluation following the fibula injury will be crucial, but the tape prior to that showed a player whose best football was still ahead of him, particularly as a pass rush technician.
What ultimately separates Rucker from other Day 3 edge prospects is his combination of natural pass rush instincts and technical refinement that belies his three-star recruiting background. The film doesn't lie – this is a player who understands leverage points, rush angles, and timing. While his physical limitations (primarily his shorter stature) will likely prevent him from becoming a premier three-down edge defender, Rucker has the tools to develop into one of those invaluable situational pressure creators that winning defenses deploy to close out games.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Kaimon Rucker percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Kaimon Rucker (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
180.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
46.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.