FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kyle Kennard
Kyle Kennard (DE – South Carolina)
6-foot-5 | 254 Pounds
Background
Kyle Kennard spent the first four years of his collegiate career at Georgia Tech, where he rotated in for two seasons (118 snaps in 2020, 260 in 2021), posting 10-3.0-2.5 and 15-4.0-2.0 before stepping into a starting role in 2022. Went 36-5.0-2.0 that year and 54-11.0-6.0 in 2023 before transferring to South Carolina and winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy this season thanks to a 28-16.0-11.5 regular-season line.
Positives
Three-year starter with escalating output, culminating in an outstanding senior year. Tall, long-limbed stand-up EDGE rusher, often off the blind side. Plays the run with a wide base and good anchor. Shows toughness and physicality when setting the edge. Overall gap discipline is adequate. Length gives him a solid tackling radius. Effective speed rusher who was able to rack up sacks against SEC opponents this past year.
Kennard is a long-strider who covers a lot of ground with his first step; doesn’t need a very wide alignment to threaten the edge with speed. Knows how to mix up his tempo a bit to catch opponents off-guard. Shows a pretty solid contact balance to stay on track when working around the edge. Works in a rip move to help him get around the edge. Flashes a nice inside move to knife his way into the backfield when opponents overset. Has some ability to convert speed to power, as his frame would suggest. Doesn’t need to gear down much when he’s turning the corner.
Negatives
Spent five years in school, so he’s a bit older than some of his peers. Doesn’t always make the most of his length; lapses into throwing a shoulder when setting the edge in the run game. His rush-first approach can create some big holes to run through. Tackling is inconsistent. Doesn’t bend the smoothest arc around the edge; overall agility/flexibility is closer to adequate and can occasionally wipe out when trying to turn the corner.
Kennard tends to get too far upfield. Would like to see him diversify his repertoire of rush moves a bit more, as he’s currently very reliant on his first step to turn the corner; has some viable moves, but his overall rush plan is somewhat predictable. Still needs to develop/integrate more counters into his game. Not the rangiest in pursuit when defending screens or outside attempts. Takes almost no snaps in coverage.
Summary
A fifth-year senior who has a nice frame for a stand-up EDGE rusher and whose first step and play speed allow him to win with speed on the edge. However, Kennard’s approach does not currently look as well-rounded as his production suggests, with a relatively straightforward rush approach and a lack of counters.
Furthermore, he is a rush-first player who has the tools to defend the run effectively but isn’t currently a highly effective run defender in terms of his hand use and gap discipline. Production and tools should get him Day 2 looks.
Projection: Round 2/Ruond 3
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