Kyle Kennard

Chargers selected South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard with the No. 125 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

A five-year college vet who reinvented himself at South Carolina, Kennard (6’4/254) turned heads in 2024 by winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and logging 11.5 sacks, which ranked second-most in South Carolina history behind only Jadeveon Clowney. The Georgia Tech transfer found his stride in a jet-mode stance, flashing 4.73 speed (82nd%) and a twitchy, long-limbed frame (34” arms) that thrives from wide-nine alignments. His 2024 tape shows a player with first-step juice and burst around the edge, pairing forward lean with a sudden plant-and-go counter to beat oversetting tackles. However, Kennard’s pass-rush plan lacks depth, producing a modest 39 total pressures which ranked 50th in the FBS. He often gets jolted off-balance and hasn’t yet mastered hand counters or shed moves. Still, he plays with effort and posted a strong 80.7 pass-rush grade thanks to his speed and ability to corner. While not yet a complete player, Kennard brings juice on passing downs and projects as a rotational Edge with developmental starter upside in a 4-3 or hybrid front.