Overview

Position: EDGE

College: South Carolina

Class: Senior

Age: 23

 

Measurables

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 254 lbs.

Arm length: 34”

Hand size: 9 3/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.73 sec.

10-yard split: 1.63 sec.

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: 23 reps

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Ideal overall size and great length. Excellent play recognition. Quick hands to immediately shed at the snap. Works to get off blocks. Impressive acceleration towards the ball after detaching from a block. Shows dip to get underneath blockers towards the ball. Good technique with a wide base and arm extension setting the edge. Quick and strong crashing inside at the snap. Will dart inside to disrupt as a run defender. Effective working back inside and tackling low. Aggressive crossing the face of tight ends. Outstanding burst and aggressiveness into the backfield if unblocked as the backside defender. Excellent overall hustle around the ball. Strong and reliable wrapping up to tackle. Shows great first-step quickness to get a jump off the ball. High effort as a rusher. Uses a straight arm to generate push around the corner as a rusher. Quick hands on swipe moves. Strong rip move at the top of his rush. Good quickness to use his hands and work back inside to the quarterback at the top of his rush. Impressive shoulder dip at his size. Quick inside move after starting his rush by pushing the outside shoulder. Quick spin move. Outstanding reach to finish around the quarterback. Controlled closing on the quarterback. Did a tremendous job tracking Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (2024). Often played with his hand in the dirt but is very comfortable as a stand-up rusher. Experience with wide rush alignment. Saw snaps shaded inside as a three-technique. Very fiery competitor. Beat top LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with a couple of inside rushes (2024). Disruptive on multiple stops at the goal line versus LSU (2024).

 

Weaknesses

Loses balance and has trouble keeping his feet at times. Average agility with some stiffness in his movements. Lower-body strength can be improved. Can get knocked around or powered to the ground by stronger opponents. Needs to be better disengaging from blocks. Had issues versus powerful blockers for Alabama (2024). Want to see improved technique to be the aggressor taking on pullers and cross-formation blocks. Could be stronger and better generating power in his legs taking on tight ends. Wasn’t giving all-out backside pursuit versus Alabama (2024). Would like to see more fluidity and twitch as a rusher. Pushed off his rush path too easily. Want to see a consistent power rush. Rush counters lack effectiveness when opponents latch on.

 

NFL comparison

D.J. Wonnum

 

Conclusion

Overall, Kennard is an aggressive edge defender with length, burst, finishing ability, and high effort as a rusher. If he can add a bit more strength both as a run defender and as a pass rusher, Kennard should be a very solid starter for an NFL defense.

 

Big Board ranking: #86 | Positional ranking: #12