Round 5 - Pick #179, Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina

[Pckfn23]

Some of us are very skeptical of taking sub par athletes with good technique. The reason is that they'll always be sub par athletes with good technique. They have hit their ceilings. An elite athlete that can be coached has a better chance of earning a spot (or so our thinking goes).

If he had injury issues and/or took bad advice to bulk up and thus ran bad times, those sub-par times may not mean he is a sub-par athlete.

[Waldo]

There are two classes of OLB's that seem to hit at the pro level. Speed guys and power guys. You can pick out the speed guys by their 3 cone. Power guys tend to jump well for their weight. I'm not sure of those jumps are good enough, but they surely are close; if the kid can play I bet he hits with heavy hands, power comes from leg drive, which is in part what jumps measure.

While his measureables are overall meh, he might have something that will work in the pros.

[Foosball]

Back up situational player who will probably be out of the league in a few years.

[kampmanfan4life]

Back up situational player who will probably be out of the league in a few years.

I am not super excited about him, but this statement will be true of most players drafted this week.

[Ghost_Lombardi]

There are two classes of OLB's that seem to hit at the pro level. Speed guys and power guys. You can pick out the speed guys by their 3 cone. Power guys tend to jump well for their weight. I'm not sure of those jumps are good enough, but they surely are close; if the kid can play I bet he hits with heavy hands, power comes from leg drive, which is in part what jumps measure.

While his measureables are overall meh, he might have something that will work in the pros.

Yeah, you can get Nick Perry or CMIII. Perry was all straight line power explosion. CMIII had testing numbers like a WR (sub 7 3 cone) at 240 pounds.

[YoHoChecko]

I love measurables as much as the next guy, but…

Which is Kingsley and which is Za’Darius?

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[Scott4Pack]

This guy will get his opportunities. Guys like Randy Ramsey aren’t going to keep him off the field. So, of all our later picks, he won’t have any excuse to not get playing time if he coaches up and works hard.

[NCF]

[JKB]

I think I'm MEH on this one. Hopefully it isn't a Millen Grade in a few years.

I think even the homer's will have a hard time polishing this one. A letdown pick for me

At this point of the draft your letdown and calling out homers? To each their own

[JKB]

Back up situational player who will probably be out of the league in a few years.

Probably, but again that fits most NFL players doesn’t it

[YoHoChecko]

I think I'm MEH on this one. Hopefully it isn't a Millen Grade in a few years.

I think even the homer's will have a hard time polishing this one. A letdown pick for me

You can’t call me a homer for defending this pick when I said this before Day Two of the draft got underway:

I also think Kingsley Enagbare and Myjai Sanders could be solid Day Two picks.

I didn't think Enagbare tested well enough to be on the board.

Fair. He didn't.

But I still like him and think someone in the league will take him tonight.

[Pckfn23]

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Rating: 84.04 (Long-term starter)

Pro Comparison: K'Lavon Chaisson

Strengths:

High-end athleticism that will stress slower offensive tackles who rely on physicality to mask their athletic limitations. Can be disruptive in passing lanes even if he can't get to quarterback, and when he pass-rushes with a purpose he can do some damage -- he has speed to turn the corner, has moves to knock the offensive tackle off balance, and is bendy enough to get to the quarterback.

Weaknesses:

Sometimes his lack of strength shows up on tape, and he will struggle to disengage from blocks. Can dominate and then disappear for stretches, and while he has the speed and bend to beat OTs around the edge, there are just flashes; he needs to do it more consistently.

Accolades:

2021: Led SEC in pressure rate (16.5%)
2020: First-team all-SEC (career-high six sacks)

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


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Rounds 4-5
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.

Kingsley Enagbare found playing time as a true freshman in 2018 and his role in the defense continued to expand from there, eventually developing into a full-time starter across his final two years. Enagbare offers an intriguing blend of burst, length, and power that mostly shows up as a pass rusher, where he finds ways to apply steady pressure. He does well to convert speed to power and use his length to compromise the width of the pocket, get even with the quarterback, flatten, and disengage with good angles.

While he has excellent first-step quickness, he isn’t extremely bendy to consistently corner the outside hip of the offensive tackle and relies on his ability to reduce rush angles. He has plenty of room to expand his pass rush repertoire but it’s easy to appreciate his awareness of his strengths on how he taps into them. As a run defender, Enagbare has plenty of room for improvement where his processing skills are below average. He doesn’t ID blocks quickly and is frequently out of his gap due to tardy responses, high pads, and peeking into the backfield. Enagbare has plenty of experience as a base end in even fronts but also as an outside linebacker in odd fronts operating from a three or two-point stance.

Enagbare is still a work in progress but his foundation of traits and ascension throughout college makes him appealing. He is likely a rotational player as a designated pass rusher that can attack the pocket from a variety of alignments in year one but has the makeup of a starter by year two or three. The key for his development is further growth with hand usage and run defense.

Ideal Role: Hybrid Edge

Scheme Fit: EDGE player in a defense that is multiple with its fronts

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Joe Marino

Games watched: Tennessee (2020), Florida (2020), Kentucky (2021), Georgia (2021), Tennessee (2021), Clemson (2021)

Best Game Studied: Tennessee (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Clemson (2021)

First Step Explosiveness: Enagbare has excellent first-step quickness which accentuates his linear explosiveness. He’s clean when releasing from a two- and three-point stance with no wasted movement or false steps. He can do more to vary his stride length to set up his rush, but he checks the box in terms of get-off.

Flexibility: Enagbare is loose enough to run the arc and corner, but labeling him overly bendy is too aggressive. He does a good job of reducing his upper half to work around the edges of blocks when the angle is softened. Around the near hip, he does well to flatten, lean into the rush angle, and finish with efficient footwork and a strong understanding of rush angles. He has good ankle flexion.

Hand Counters: Enagbare is excellent at converting speed to power to set up his rush plan. Combining that with his efficiency winning around the near hip with a blend of inside moves makes him a really effective pass rusher. He competes to work counters and clear contact but still has room to grow with timing, placement, and variety.

Length: See Above.

Hand Power: See Above.

Run Defending: Enagbare is inconsistent maintaining his run fits, especially when playing 5-technique. There are so many positive reps where he plays with leveraged hips, extension, and fights for his gap, but some lapses in block recognition and processing find him rooted out of gaps. He has to be careful to not get caught peeking into the backfield, which forces him to lose leverage and enables blockers to take control of reps.

Effort (Motor): See Above.

Football IQ: Engabare has room for improvement when it comes to processing and play recognition skills. There are too many instances of him failing to read blocks in the run game and he concedes his gap because he gets reached. There are times when he is peeking in the backfield and loses track of his positioning on the field.

Lateral Mobility: Enagbare’s athleticism is more impressive in linear situations. While he isn’t deficient when it comes to lateral mobility, he isn’t springy when changing directions. He isn’t an ideal option to be used in space with frequency.

Versatility: Enagabare has experience as an even front defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker. In 2021, it felt like he was primarily in a two-point stance as a rush linebacker. He is a more effective pass rusher than run defender, although he isn’t lacking the physical traits to be a good run defender, he just has to process it better.

SCOUT GRADES

TDN Consensus: 72.50/100 (Fourth Round Valuation)

Crabbs Grade: 71.50/100

Marino Grade: 72.00/100

Harris Grade: 72.00/100

Sanchez Grade: 72.00/100

Weissman Grade: 74.50/100

Parson Grade: 73.00/100

[LombardiTime]

I think I'm MEH on this one. Hopefully it isn't a Millen Grade in a few years.

I think even the homer's will have a hard time polishing this one. A letdown pick for me

You can’t call me a homer for defending this pick when I said this before Day Two of the draft got underway:

I didn't think Enagbare tested well enough to be on the board.

Fair. He didn't.

But I still like him and think someone in the league will take him tonight.

You may well be a homer, but I cannot understand how the selection of a player (at the end of round 5) who pressured the QB at a decent rate, while playing on a non-dominant SEC team, and plays a position that appears to need some depth qualifies as anything other than at least a reasonable selection.

Maybe some fans are having Ricky Elmore flashbacks, but I too was pleased by this pick.

[NCF]

[Pckfn23]

[Pckfn23]

[TheSkeptic]

There are two classes of OLB's that seem to hit at the pro level. Speed guys and power guys. You can pick out the speed guys by their 3 cone. Power guys tend to jump well for their weight. I'm not sure of those jumps are good enough, but they surely are close; if the kid can play I bet he hits with heavy hands, power comes from leg drive, which is in part what jumps measure.

While his measureables are overall meh, he might have something that will work in the pros.

Probably did not know whether he would be playing 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB in the pros. Now he knows and can spend the next few months working on improving his quickness in space. At this stage in his career, he can make pretty significant changes to his body and skill set - if he wants to work that hard. Lots of guys do, many do not.

[YoHoChecko]

Did we know this? Has this been mentioned? Can we get Mike Smith on the phone to talk about pressure rate versus sacks again?

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Enagbare pressured the quarterback on 15.7 percent of dropbacks last season, the ninth-highest rate in the country and the second highest in the SEC behind only potential 2023 No. 1 overall pick Will Anderson Jr. from Alabama.

[NCF]

Did we know this? Has this been mentioned? Can we get Mike Smith on the phone to talk about pressure rate versus sacks again?

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Enagbare pressured the quarterback on 15.7 percent of dropbacks last season, the ninth-highest rate in the country and the second highest in the SEC behind only potential 2023 No. 1 overall pick Will Anderson Jr. from Alabama.

I didn't know that, but the athletic profile comparison to Za'Darius Smith improved my spirits quite a bit. Also listening to Andy Herman talk today he sounds like one of those crafty guys that wins ugly but wins often. For a 5th-round pick, I guess I don't really care how ugly it is if it works... especially if we are saying the ceiling for that kind of athletic profile is Z.

[YoHoChecko]

This pick will always be weird for me because I was LOCKED IN on developing athletic marvel, raw EDGE, Dominique Robinson, who went after the pick the Packers traded to the Broncos but before the pick they received 7 picks later. We can't know how the Packers' board looked, but in my mind, I'll be thinking "Are Enagbare and Ford the DT better than Robinson at EDGE down the road?" It's something I'll be monitoring.

But I also viewed Enagbare as a late 3rd/early 4th value who can develop into a power rusher and interior rusher that we seem to like having on the team. So he's a guy I like a lot and he's a guy I feel like we took after a trade down caused us to miss out on one of my favorite developmental draft values in the whole class.

But Robinson going to the Bears makes it easy to shift to rooting fully for Enegbare and his size, hands, and pressure rate rather than Robinson, a former WR with wild traits who has played defense for like 2 years. Enagbare helps a lot more THIS year, also, just as a rotational piece, rather than a ball of clay.