Green Bay Packers select South Carolina defensive end Kingsley Enagbare in 2022 NFL Draft

Former South Carolina defensive end Kingsley Enagbare is taking his game to the next level, as he was selected 179th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday.

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. Enagbare had a strong season in 2021, as he made 44 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

A 6-foot-4, 265-pound defender, Enagbare was 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.

Looking at his stats from last season, Enagbare tallied seven tackles in a win over Vanderbilt on Oct. 16 and put up six tackles in a loss to Kentucky on Sept. 25. He heads to the Packers after playing in 39 career games at South Carolina, which makes him a defensive end with plenty of experience.

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.”