Every year, a handful of FCS players separate themselves as legitimate NFL prospects and seemingly come out of nowhere to become solid contributors at the next level. For many prospects who fit that mold, their "small school" designation holds them back from being big names among draft media, however impressive their skillset might be.
I watched former Cal Poly Edge Rusher and current New England Patriots edge Elijah Ponder before the 2025 NFL Draft, a player I thought was substantially better than his undrafted free agent status. He quickly proved me right, worked his way up the Patriots' depth chart, and finished his rookie season with 4 sacks; a valuable piece on a Super Bowl defense.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, I'm feeling a similar way about another defensive line prospect, and one who put on a show at the East-West Shrine Bowl, the same All-Star game that Ponder dominated a year prior.
It's time to get familiar with Southeastern Louisiana IDL Kaleb Proctor.
The Journey
Proctor hails from Oak Grove, Louisiana, attending Oak Grove High School and graduating as a member of the 2022 class. Playing at a 1A school, his recruitment was quiet, despite back-to-back state championships and being selected to the All-State team his senior year. He picked up a few offers from smaller schools and made the decision in November of 2021 to stay in-state, committing to Southeastern Louisiana.
It was clear from his first collegiate season that the Lions had something in Proctor. In limited snaps across 12 games as a freshman, he racked up 16 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. He built on his strong introduction to college football with a similar sophomore campaign, finishing the year with 26 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and another forced fumble in 11 games. He took a sizeable step forward in 2024, nearly doubling his career sack total. His role on the defense expanded, ending the season with 49 tackles, 6 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery, making strides as both a pass rusher and run defender.
His senior season was when Proctor put it all together. Southland Conference Player of the Year, Second-Team FCS All-American, 9 sacks, and 13 TFLs. Filling out his frame to a gaudy 6'3", 280 pounds, it was clear week in and week out that he was playing at a different level than everyone around him. It wasn't long before scouts began to take notice, earning him an invite to the NFL-FCS Showcase and a subsequent Shrine Bowl invitation, a prestigious honor for the FCS defender.
When Proctor showed up at the Shrine Bowl practice facility in Frisco, Texas, he remained unfazed by the high-level competition. He looked seemingly unstoppable in OL/DL drills, constantly flashing a quick get-off, violent arms, and pass rush moves that showed exactly why the Southeastern Louisiana product tallied a whopping 40 QB pressures in 2025. His week concluded with "West All-Practice Team" honors and an NFL Combine invitation, yet another testament to just how good a player Proctor truly is.
The NFL Profile
When it comes to projecting him as an NFL player, Proctor mas more than enough tools to be considered draftable. He explodes through his base, transitions from speed to power smoothly to throw offensive linemen off balance, and works through the OL with a plethora of moves that make him one of the most intriguing pass-rushing defensive tackles in the 2026 class.
If one thing has been made clear throughout his career and continued through the All-Star circuit, it's that Proctor can compete with anyone. With the draft quickly approaching and teams across the league looking to bolster their play in the trenches, Proctor's name should be coming up frequently as a potential high-value steal in the later rounds.