South Carolina football: JJ Enagbare lands in 1st round of Mel Kiper’s mock draft

South Carolina football’s JJ Enagbare continues to receive offseason recognition.

South Carolina has had a defensive player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in each of the last two season. First was Javon Kinlaw, going No. 14 to the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He was followed by cornerback Jaycee Horn in the latest draft, who was the first defender off the board in 2021.

Can the Gamecocks have a third player follow suit in 2022? One major NFL Draft guru thinks so.

Mel Kiper has tabbed defensive end JJ Enagbare as one of the top 25 draft eligible players ahead of the 2021 college football season. The talented pass rusher landed at No. 18 on the list, and was rated by Kiper as the No. 2 outside linebacker in the class.

Here’s what he had to say about Enagbare’s outlook at the professional level.

"“Enagbare is another edge rusher to watch in this class. He had six sacks — including two strip sacks — in eight games last season… He can bend the edge and beat offensive tackles, which is why I think he’s a better fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense… He’s a really solid player.”"

Though he typically plays with his hand in the dirt for the Gamecocks, Kiper believes that the team’s reigning sack leader is best suited to play at the linebacker position at the next level. Playing as an outside backer in a 3-4 scheme would allow him to utilize his pass rushing abilities, while not asking him to do as much against the run or in coverage.

Enagbare has tallied 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss over his three-year career. As a junior, he saw an uptick in playing time, which resulted in a career high six quarterback takedowns despite playing in a COVID-shortened season. The Peach State native earned all-SEC honors, and is looking to cap his collegiate career with another productive campaign.

He should lead a South Carolina defensive line that brings back a ton of talent in 2021 season. Enagbare is back for a final go, 2019 sack leader Aaron Sterling is also back, and five-star prospects Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch return. That unit will be instrumental in improving a Gamecock defense that ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference last year.