Kyle Kennard

Last updated

Kyle Kennard
No. 54 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2001-12-12) December 12, 2001 (age 23)
Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:254 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school: Riverwood (Sandy Springs, Georgia)
College:
NFL draft: 2025: 4th round, 125th pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kyle M. Kennard (born December 12, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and South Carolina Gamecocks. Kennard was selected by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Kennard was born on December 12, 2001 in Flint, Michigan. [1] Kennard's family moved to Georgia when he was 9 and he attended Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs, Georgia. [2] Coming out of high school, he was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. [3]

College career

Georgia Tech

In his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021, Kennard recorded 25 tackles with six being for a loss and four and a half sacks. [4] [5] During the 2022 season, Kennard played in twelve games for the Yellow Jackets while making nine starts, where he totaled 36 tackles with four and a half being for a loss, and two sacks. [6] In week two of the 2023 season, Kennard was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) defensive lineman of the week after notching five tackles with half of one being for a loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception, in a win over the South Carolina State Bulldogs. [7] In week four, he would once again be named the ACC defensive lineman of the week after recording four sacks and a forced fumble versus Wake Forest. [8] Kennard finished the 2023 season tallying 54 tackles with 11 being for a loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. [9] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Kennard entered the NCAA transfer portal. [10]

South Carolina

Kennard transferred to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks. [2] In his first game as a Gamecock in week one of the 2024 season, he notched five tackles, two and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles, as he helped South Carolina to a win over Old Dominion. [11] He also holds the #2 spot for program single season sacks with 11.5, trailing only Jadeveon Clowney who recorded 13 in 2012. Kennard was named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the top defensive player in college football. [12]

College statistics

SeasonGPTacklesFumblesInterceptions
CmbSoloAstSckFFFRYdsTDIntYdsTDPD
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2020 610822.500000000
2021 12155102.000000000
2022 123619172.000000000
2023 125432226.0220011200
South Carolina Gamecocks
2024 122820811.532000001
Career 54143845924.0540011201

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Bench press
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m)		254 lb
(115 kg)		34 in
(0.86 m)		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.73 s1.63 s2.74 s23 reps
All values from NFL Combine [13] [14]

Kennard was selected with the 125th pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2025 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic . pp. 296–297. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Dearing, Chris (August 23, 2024). "How Kyle Kennard went from Gamecocks newcomer to team leader in first months on campus". The State. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (June 12, 2019). "Riverwood DL Kyle Kennard gives commitment to Georgia Tech". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Kaye, Jordan (August 23, 2024). "South Carolina Football: Kyle Kennard commits to USC". The State. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Kyle Kennard". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ Clark, Chris (December 15, 2023). "South Carolina lands transfer portal EDGE Kyle Kennard". On3.com. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ Bishop, Chad. "Georgia Tech's Kyle Kennard named ACC defensive lineman of the week". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ Vigliotta, Emillie. "Transfer edge rusher Kyle Kennard's impact felt on Gamecocks' defensive line". The Daily Gamecock. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ Adams, Emily (December 15, 2023). "Shane Beamer adds Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard for South Carolina football defensive line". Greenville Online. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ Caudell, Jackson (December 15, 2023). "Former Georgia Tech Defensive End Kyle Kennard Commits to South Carolina". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ Butt, Peyton (September 5, 2024). "Kyle Kennard and South Carolina defense looking to 'put their foot on the gas' ahead of Kentucky". On3.com. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Kyle Kennard Wins the 2024 Bronco Nagurski Trophy". University of South Carolina Athletics. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Kyle Kennard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kyle Kennard College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Chargers Select South Carolina Edge Rusher Kyle Kennard in Round 4 of 2025 NFL Draft". Chargers.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
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