Jack Kiser has taken the reigns of the Notre Dame defense in his sixth collegiate season and is performing his way into legitimate draft conversations. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, and Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report of Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser
Measurables:
- 6’2”
- 231 lbs
Player Background:
Playing his High School football at Pioneer HS in Indiana, Jack Kiser led the Panthers to two straight state championships in 2017 and 2018. He committed to Notre Dame in June of 2018 and signed with the team as a four-star recruit in their 2019 class. He appeared in four games in his freshman year but didn’t record any statistics. In his second season, he bounced from defense to special teams with the Fighting Irish as a rotational defender. His first career start came against South Florida, and he ended the season with 20 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and an interception.
He started eight games in 2021 at an extremely high level, recording two long pick sixes and two forced fumbles to go along with 45 total tackles. His senior campaign in 2022 saw his first 2.5 sacks, as well as being one of the best special teams players in the nation. He returned for his first two graduate seasons in 2023 and continued his upward trajectory. Kiser set a career-high with 62 tackles, sacked the quarterback 1.5 times, forced a fumble, and picked off a pass. He was granted an extra year of eligibility in 2024 and has started every game as the team’s defensive captain.
Accolades:
- Defensive Team Captain (2024)
- Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Kiser has plenty of experience as a sixth-year senior, and it shows in his recognition of run plays and direction. He controls the short passing game effectively and creates a solid balance between keeping routes in front of him and smothering potential targets. He’s a decently efficient mover when navigating through traffic at the line of scrimmage. His disengagement from blockers is very impressive, and he can flip back onto delayed routes. He maneuvers between assignments smoothly and expands his coverage into a lot more areas than most LBs can.
Kiser is a much better athlete than most people give him credit for. He accelerates quickly with an explosive trigger when moving in any direction. His change-of-direction skills are NFL-level with good movement to all angles. He’s physical enough to stick blockers and hold his ground, closing running lanes and allowing his defensive linemen to drive the line backward. He also brings special teams upside with multiple years of experience and leadership qualities in that aspect of the game.
Weaknesses/Cons:
A legitimate conversation will need to be had about Kiser’s higher age coming into the NFL, likely limiting his longevity in the league. Most of his on-field struggles come from an often untimely combination of being too aggressive or reluctant. He can get jumpy early in zone coverage and frequently gets dragged off by the quarterback’s eyes. He tends to get moved out of position because of this and loses leverage across the middle.
Kiser’s blitzes are often picked up easily due to being very fidgety pre-play when he’s rushing. He also gets caught turning his head to locate peripheral wideouts mid-play and can be late snapping back to the ball. His range diminishes after his initial burst and doesn’t finish as many string tackles as desired. There will be plays where he needs to sell out to make an impact and he doesn’t, leading to some bigger gains.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Entering the league as an older prospect, Kiser will be viewed as more of a veteran than a developmental rookie. He has areas that need improvement, but he’s complete enough as it stands to be a plug-and-play draftee with instant impact potential. The development of his overall technique and the maintenance of his athleticism will dictate how high his ceiling will be and how long he plays to it. He plays with the movement skills and tackling ability to command a defense and should be an exciting LB prospect to follow.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid 3rd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Texas A&M
- 2024 vs. Georgia
- 2023 vs. Oklahoma
Main Image: Michael Clubb – USA Today Sports
