2022 NFL Draft: Kingsley Enagbare enters senior year with first round buzz
By Evan Bruner
South Carolina edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare made the decision to come back to school for his senior year in hopes of elevating his draft stock.
The production and talent are already evident, and with a more technical and disciplined approach in 2021, Kingsley Enagbare could hear his name called early on the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Enagbare enrolled at South Carolinas in 2018 as 4-star recruit out of Hapesville Charter high school in Atlanta, Georgia. He was able to work his way into the lineup as a true freshman, and his role on the defense and production have gradually increased since.
Enagbare started to gain NFL attention after being named first-team All-SEC by the coaches and second-team All-SEC by the AP as a junior. He ultimately decided to return to school, citing his desire to improve and lead his team as his reason to come back to Columbia.
Listed at 6’4 and 260 pounds, Enagbare moves exceptionally well for someone his size. He’s able to get around offensive tackles and chase down opposing quarterbacks in a way that few his size can. He plays mostly as an edge, but his physical tools give him some versatility if NFL teams wanted him to use him as an inside rusher.
A major strength of Enagbare’s game is his motor. He plays the game about as hard as anyone in the country. Everything he does is full speed. He is great at the point of attack and has very violent hands to overpower opposing linemen. Enagbare is rarely, if ever, seen giving up on a play. The only drawback of this is he can rely too much on his power and tenacity to overwhelm offensive linemen and can play a little bit out of control at times. Being able to balance out the high-intensity playing style with a more controlled, calculated approach would certainly help Enagbare’s draft stock.
Enagbare has improved his production each year as a Gamecock, putting up career bests in total tackles (30), sacks (6), and forced fumbles (2) in only eight games in 2020. He has become one of the most productive pass rushers in the SEC, and his high-end athleticism and motor give him room to grow in his run defense and pass coverage.
Ultimately, Enagbare has a lot riding on the 2021 season. He is already gaining the first-round buzz, but there is a reason he came back to school. Most of these projections are based on the idea that Enagbare will continue to improve as he has throughout his entire collegiate career. Although Enagbare broke through last year, the COVID shortened season still created its fair share of challenges for players. A full season will give Enagbare a chance to better his production and also give scouts more film to go off of.
He already has the physical tools to be a difference-maker in the NFL and can vault himself up 2022 NFL Draft boards with better film this season. He’s a little rough around the edges, but the upside is there, and that’s why Kingsley Enagbare has found himself in a great position entering the 2021 season.