South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard 2025 NFL Draft profile

Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 254 lbs
School: South Carolina (transferred from Georgia Tech in 2024)

South Carolina

Georgia Tech

Pros:

• Strength: Kyle Kennard has plenty of physical traits that make him appealing as an NFL pass rushers, with his strength probably being his best quality. He's just a tough, tough task for opposing offensive linemen, who at times seem to have him handled but his effort and power sees him win out.
• First step quickness: Kennard doesn't have the best top-end speed in this class, but he has a strong first step, which he's learning to utilize in a few counter moves. His explosiveness off the line, paired with his power, makes him a handful. 
• Length: Kennard appears to have good length at the point of attack, using the length and strength in his arms in long-arm technique to get offensive linemen off balance before attacking.

Cons:

• Pass rush game plan: Kennard has a ton of natural traits and technique to his game, but he doesn't have a wide variety of moves in his toolbox at this point in his development. The addition of more moves, particularly counter moves, will take his game to the next level.
  
• Pure speed: Kennard has the first step explosiveness, but he lacks the top gear in terms of pure speed. That's nitpicking, though, as pure speed isn't the name of his game. However, it is one less thing that opposing offensive linemen have to stress about when facing him, making the development of his other moves that much more important. 
• Bend: Kennard also doesn't have best hip flexibility and bend. At times it can slow his ability to turn the corner, which is the path that he prefers to take to the quarterback. 
• Run blocking recognition: At times, Kennard seems to struggle to identify run blocking assignments as they develop in front of him, finding himself blocked out of the play over over running the gap. 

Player Evaluation:

Kyle Kennard was the 2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and whether or not you want to debate the merits of that decision, he earned the title for being a tone-setter, disruptor, and nuisance off the edge for South Carolina.

When watching Kennard, it's easy to see the appeal. Few things pop off the screen with him the way they do with some other prospects, but he's a well-rounded, powerful Edge rusher that consistently finds himself in the backfield.

Kennard certainly is not the most polished pass rusher; he could still benefit from learning a variety of other moves to put in his tool belt, and his play recognition on run plays is a drawback to his game, but his length at 6'5", speed-to-power ability, and tenaciously powerful game up front is plenty to get excited about. 

Player Comparison:

Odafe Oweh (Baltimore Ravens)

The Ravens used a late 2021 1st round pick on Edge Odafe Oweh out of Penn State, and despite having a bit of a slow start in his NFL career, he's quietly having a great season for Baltimore, up to eight sacks in mid December. Oweh has a very similar build to Kennard, measuring 6'5" 255 lbs. Much like Kennard, he likes utilizing his strength and a long arm to throw off offensive tackles, and has developed more moves in the early stages of his NFL career. 

A to Z Rankings:

A to Z Big Board Ranking: #62 overall, #10 EDGE

A to Z Draft Grade: 7.45

Draft Projection: Day 2 (7.01-8.00)