Kingsley Enagbare OLB/EDGE South Carolina

Player Bio
Enagbare (pronounced ee-NAG-bar-ee) enrolled a semester early after helping Hapeville Charter Academy in Atlanta win a state title as the Class AA Defensive Player of the Year. Taking part in spring practices paid off in his freshman campaign, as he contributed in 12 games as a reserve (20 tackles, three for loss with one sack, two pass breakups, one blocked kick). Enagbare made only one start in 2019 but had a strong pass rush presence in 12 appearances (27 tackles, seven for loss with 3.5 sacks). SEC coaches recognized his 2020 performance, in which he had 30 tackles, seven for loss with a team-high six sacks, and tied for sixth in the FBS with three forced fumbles in eight starts, by naming him first-team all-conference. Enagbare missed the final two games due to a hip injury and had surgery after the season. He was left off the all-conference lists in 2021 but was still productive in 12 starts for the Gamecocks with 44 tackles, seven for loss with 4.5 sacks, and two pass breakups. Enagbare opted out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. Kingsley's nickname, "J.J.", comes from his love for the children's show, "Jay Jay the Jet Plane". -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
Enagbare is long and strong but lacks explosiveness, which could create diverging opinions regarding his position and how best to play him. He's heavy-handed and physical but will never be confused for a playmaker on the edge. He's best suited as a cubicle defender where his power and length can benefit him in smaller spaces. He has played heavier in the past and teams might ask him to pack the pounds back on in order to compete as a run-defending interior lineman in an odd or even front.

Strengths
Above-average length and upper-body power.
Punches with good knockback pop.
Powerful slap to flip and clear blocker's edge at point of attack.
Uses his heavy hands to bully blockers.
Potential to develop into a five-technique with more weight.
Forceful demeanor fits the NFL game.
Thud tackler with stopping power.

Weaknesses
Tight hips with slow twitch.
Inconsistent punch-and-separate move.
Below-average range and short-area agility as tackler.
Predictable, face-up rusher.
Slow and linear in twist game.
Lacks functional explosiveness to the top of the rush.
Shoots upright when hitting inside move.

(Pssst Zero, you can edit this whenever you get around to it. And no, Enagbare didn't go to North Dakota St. ;) )

I noticed he was falling. One of the census boards had him listed at 61 with a peak of 26. Added depth at edge.

wpr;450516I noticed he was falling. One of the census boards had him listed at 61 with a peak of 26. Added depth at edge.

Doesn't fit the RAS measurables that Gutey leans on but at this point there was just too much value and he was productive in college. As a rotation piece, he won't have to do everything off the bat while they work on rounding him into form.

5/179. Kingsley Enagbare, Edge, South Carolina (3, 4): By the time the Packers got around to addressing their lack of depth at outside linebacker with the final selection of the fifth round a total of 19 edge rushers had been picked.

Enagbare’s production in the SEC raises eyebrows. Despite starting just 21 games he registered 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and 24 tackles for loss. Yet, despite cutting weight to 258 to run a good 40 at the combine, he clocked 4.9. When he showed up weighing 271 at pro day, he ran even worse.

How did the slowest prospect among the top 25 edge rushers manage such hefty production against college football’s finest?

Tremendous arm length (34 ¾). Huge hands (10 5/8). Solid athletic ability. Craftiness.

Enagbare is one of those rushers that will swoop in from the outside and occasionally win with an arm stab, a slap of the hands and surprising ability to bend under the tackle. Maybe the speed void will catch up to him in the first week of one-on-one pass rush in pads against NFL tackles. There’s an opening in Green Bay if it doesn’t.

Yeah, he's certainly not going to win on pure athletic skills alone, but more physical and technical style.

That being said, something no one is talking about is run defense, he's physical, he's got super long arms and he can get long and hand fight.

I get it, he'll never be the sexiest pick because he can't speed rush, but there are a lot of super speedsters that bust because they can't handle the physical element of the game, and he certainly can, which made me shocked that he fell so far. I thought his best spot might be a 4-3 against RTs, but even 3-4 teams are basically 2-4 that look like 4-2 when lined up as nickel defenses play so often.

He'll never be flashy, but I think he could potentially have a long career.

This might be my favorite pick in the draft: getting a guy who some saw as a 2nd rounder in the 5th after trading back for an additional 7th rounder to help with ST. Gutekunst=#steelyeyedassassin

Mucky Tundra;450819This might be my favorite pick in the draft: getting a guy who some saw as a 2nd rounder in the 5th after trading back for an additional 7th rounder to help with ST. Gutekunst=#steelyeyedassassin

I'm still wondering what did teams not like enough, to let him drop to the last pick of the 5th round...

If they don't consider him a good enough athlete? Or what? He's got super long freaking arms (which usually some teams absolutely love), he's physical, he isn't the most athletic, not the best chasing guys down, but he put up a ton of pressures in the SEC beating OL, when he was often the guy protection were trying to stop.

Just feels like there is a missing piece to the puzzle.

Mucky Tundra;450819

This might be my favorite pick in the draft: getting a guy who some saw as a 2nd rounder in the 5th after trading back for an additional 7th rounder to help with ST. Gutekunst=#steelyeyedassassin

Wasn't Uncle Teddy the steely eyed assassin?

wpr;450833Wasn't Uncle Teddy the steely eyed assassin?

Yep but Gutey has inherited the mantle.