Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame
Size:
Height: 6015
Weight: 231
Arm: 30 ⅜”
Hand: 9”
Accomplishments:
Notre Dame Special Teams Player of the Year (2023)
“Jack Kiser is the ultimate leader inside the heart of a defense whose game projects immediately as a core special teams contributor with the chance for defensive snaps down the line.”
Strengths:
Leadership
Physicality
Tackling
Concerns:
Coverage
Fluidity
Range
Film Analysis:
Jack Kiser is the ultimate leader inside the heart of a defense whose game projects immediately as a core special teams contributor with the chance for defensive snaps down the line. He aligns primarily as the weak side, pursuit linebacker but has snaps as the ‘MIKE’ in his lengthy career at Notre Dame.
Not an every-down type of LB, but Kiser has shown the ability to produce when granted the opportunity. Against the run, Kiser tends to be a seek-and-pursue athlete—patience is minimal, but he does well to consistently put his body in a spot to make a play. Frame is pro-ready, but his ability to ID the run and range from hash to hash needs more consistency. Short, choppy strides allow Kiser to accelerate/decelerate in tight areas.
He’s a violent football player who plays with the tenacity you'd like to see in a second-level defender. Will not slide his feet and beat ball-carriers to the spot in the fringe areas. Rather, Kiser constantly looks for alternate routes to find the football—in a positive way. He’ll work through backside blockers, adjust his depth and alignment pre-snap, and has shown no hesitation in taking on blockers in isolated situations.
In coverage, Kiser does not have a ton of experience working in space. When on the field, primarily in zone coverage situations, he can be a matchup that offenses look to exploit over the middle with more athletic tight ends and shiftier receivers. Hips are tight and awareness is average when asked to drop and turn in open grass. Has evident ball production (4 career INTs), but he has trouble in keeping up with superior athletes over the middle of the field. Is best right now as a rotational early-down defender with snaps as an extra body when asked to blitz up the A and B gaps.
Concerns remain about his comfortability in space, limiting his impact immediately as a defensive contributor. Projects well as a special teams contributor due to his physicality, understanding of angles, and evident leadership both pre and post-snap. He’s a player you want in a locker room.
Overall, Kiser will enter the draft process as one of the more experienced prospects in the class with a projection that centers around his multi-phase contributions and ability as a run defender.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific Contributor
Written By: Ryan Fowler
