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Kingsley Enagbare explains how he was given nickname JJ

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•05/11/22
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 04: South Carolina defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 4, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers went heavy on linebackers and defensive linemen. They ended their draft using four picks at those positions. One of those four selections was former South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Kingsley Enagbare. The Packers selected Enagbare in the fifth round with overall pick No.179.


Last week Green Bay held a brief conference to introduce all of their new rookies ahead of rookie minicamp. And one of the questions Enagbare answered was about his nickname JJ. With the letter J absent from his name, one reporter was curious about how he got the nickname. They also wanted to know what his preferred name would be.

“Preference? There’s really no preference. You can go Kingsley, Kingsley I guess is fine,” said Enagbare. “…It was a little cartoon show JJ The Jet Plane that I used to watch when I was a little kid. And it just kinda just stuck with me.”

Enagbare, a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit coming out of the Class of 2018, put together a successful collegiate career for the Gamecocks – totaling 121 tackles over four seasons with the program. He had a strong season in 2021, as he made 44 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Enagbare ranked as the No. 15 EDGE in the country in the 2018 recruiting class coming out of Hapeville Charter (Ga.) High School. He held scholarship offers from a number of top-tier programs – including Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee – before choosing to play at South Carolina.

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What NFL draft analysts are saying about Kingsley Enagbare

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Enagbare can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the defensive end’s draft profile.

“Enagbare is long and strong but lacks explosiveness, which could create diverging opinions regarding his position and how best to play him,” Zierlein said. “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.”