Kyle Kennard: “Sterling Lucas Modernized My Game”

South Carolina Assistant Coach’s Influence on Kyle Kennard’s Breakout Year

At the NFL Combine, South Carolina assistant coach Sterling Lucas was reflecting on his work with Kyle Kennard, particularly the impact his guidance had during Kennard’s time with the Gamecocks. Kennard, fresh off a strong season at Georgia Tech, had a solid 2022 campaign, leading the Yellow Jackets with six sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss. However, Lucas saw areas where small adjustments could make a huge difference.

In an exclusive interview with Nicole Auerbach this week, Kennard shared how Lucas’ feedback helped him fine-tune his technique: “I sat down and watched film with my new position coach Sterling Lucas. He told me I could have had about 10 (sacks),” Kennard revealed. “We sat there and watched a lot of things that I could have done better—things at the top of the rush, like ripping, bending, turning my toe—things like that. I kind of emphasized those things more this year.”

Kennard not only responded to the challenge but surpassed expectations. He recorded an impressive 11.5 sacks, finishing the season with 28 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss, and one of the highest PFF pass-rush grades in the SEC. His dominant performance earned him All-American honors and made him the first Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner in South Carolina history.

“It definitely had a lot to do with coaching,” Kennard said, attributing much of his success to Lucas. “He kind of modernized the game for me in a way. A lot of coaches are set in their ways of doing things. I had great coaches at my last institution, don’t get me wrong, but he kind of helped me and let me be me more.”

Now a Day 2 NFL draft prospect, Kennard is aiming to boost his stock even further at the NFL Combine this week. On Thursday, the on-field drills for defensive linemen and linebackers will take place, followed by the bench press on Friday.

On Wednesday, Kennard had the chance to meet with NFL teams and the media, where he made it clear what he offers to any team that picks him: “I’m telling them that I’m a complete defensive end,” he said. “I can rush the passer as well as make plays in the backfield in the running game and that I’m the total package.”

Back in South Carolina, both coaches and players are rallying behind Kennard, who made a significant impact in his one season with the team. Reflecting on his time at South Carolina, Kennard is confident about the future of the program.

“We just knew that we could do something real special,” Kennard said. “We tried to do that. We had some bumps and bruises early on, and we kind of got those fixed more throughout the season. But really, I talk about this all the time—next season, the sky’s the limit for those guys. I mean, they’ve got one of the best defensive players returning. LaNorris Sellers on offense is returning back. They’re adding key pieces everywhere, and I just think they’re gonna be unstoppable this season.”

Kennard’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and it’s clear that he’s now ready for the next step in his football career.