Kyle Kennard DE/EDGE South Carolina | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kyle Kennard DE/EDGE South Carolina
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.73 seconds (73%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.73 seconds (73%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 85.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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75% |
| Pass Rush: |
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89% |
| Run Defense: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#72
Position rank:
#22
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| College Games: 54 College Snaps: 1994 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah - Kansas State |
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98% |
| Jalyx Hunt - Houston Christian |
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92% |
| K.J. Henry - Clemson |
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91% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Kennard's path to becoming one of college football's premier pass rushers wasn't lined with five-star accolades or immediate stardom. The former Riverwood High School standout flew somewhat under the radar as a three-star recruit, but his athleticism was evident even then, posting a blazing 4.72 forty at The Opening Regional. After committing to Georgia Tech, Kennard methodically built his resume over four seasons with the Yellow Jackets, developing from a situational pass rusher into a full-time starter.His decision to transfer to South Carolina for his final season proved transformative. Kennard exploded onto the national scene, becoming the first Gamecock to ever win the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy. His dominant 2024 campaign included 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, finishing as both the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. The 6'4", 248-pound edge defender particularly showed out against Alabama, wreaking havoc with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks against elite competition.
Over his collegiate career spanning 54 games (32 starts), Kennard accumulated 143 tackles, 37.0 tackles for loss, and 24.0 sacks. His senior year performance wasn't just about raw numbers - he consistently impacted games, generating 10 quarterback hurries and forcing three fumbles while recovering two more. His academic achievements matched his on-field excellence, earning First-Team Academic All-America honors.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Natural twitch off the snap with explosive burst in his get-off, routinely winning the edge before tackles can set their anchor
- Refined pass rush toolbox featuring a devastating cross-chop move, violent hand strikes, and fluid ghost technique around the arc
- Nasty rip move that he chains together with his get-off speed, consistently dipping under tackle's punch while maintaining balance through contact
- Demonstrates impressive spatial awareness as a pass rusher, understanding when to counter inside against oversetting tackles
- High-motor player who shows relentless pursuit - multiple cleanup sacks in 2024 came from secondary effort and refusing to stay blocked
- Advanced football IQ shows up in his ability to diagnose screen plays and combat misdirection - rarely takes himself out of plays
- Excellent timing on his hand swipes and chops, consistently forcing fumbles by targeting the quarterback's throwing motion
- Shows natural instincts as a pass rusher with the ability to set up tackles with initial rush moves before countering effectively
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lighter frame at 248 pounds causes issues when setting the edge - gets displaced by double teams and stronger offensive tackles in the run game
- Needs to develop a more diverse pass rush plan - relies heavily on speed-to-power moves and can become predictable in longer drives
- Will occasionally lose containment responsibilities by getting too far upfield in his rush, creating cutback lanes in the run game
- Despite good length, still developing technique to stack and shed consistently against NFL-caliber tackles in the run game
- Can get caught playing too high, particularly when anchoring against the run - needs to maintain better pad level through contact
Scouting Report: Summary
I see a player who can step in and contribute immediately as a situational pass rusher while developing into a more complete edge defender. His explosive get-off and natural bend show up consistently on third downs, but he'll need a specific role early in his career. Think Harold Landry coming out of Boston College - a rusher who can win with speed and length while building up his power game.Coordinators will best deploy Kennard primarily as a stand-up rusher in sub packages, letting him attack from wide alignments where his burst and length can create immediate pressure. The film shows a player who thrives when given space to operate, particularly against tackles who struggle with speed. However, his lack of anchor strength means he shouldn't be asked to consistently play in tight alignments or match up against powerful right tackles in the run game during his rookie season.
While Kennard hasn't hit his ceiling yet, tempering expectations is important. He profiles as a rotational pass rush specialist who could develop into a solid starter by year three if he adds functional strength and diversifies his rush arsenal. The tools are there for him to become a quality edge defender, but he'll need time and the right scheme fit to maximize his potential. Look for him to make his biggest impact early as a designated pass rusher in sub packages while working to become a more complete player.
Kyle Kennard percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Kyle Kennard (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
71.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
24.0
*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.