From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk.
No. 15 Keldric Faulk/EDGE Auburn – 6-6, 285 pounds (Junior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Keldric Faulk 6-6/285 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Much better at getting his hand in throwing lanes during final year at Auburn
– Great in pursuit coming across the line of scrimmage
– Good use of hands in run defense, sheds blocks consistently
– Strength makes it difficult for defenders to seal him off
– Excellent strength at the point of attack
– Good size, frame for the position
– Long arms help him create extension against blockers
– Recognizes when pullers are coming his way, likes to slide underneath pullers
– No dominant pass rush moves, but a good variety including swim and rip moves
– High motor player who never takes a play off
– Experience playing all across the defensive line, as well as dropping into coverage
– Sets the edge well, good gap discipline no matter where he is on the line of scrimmage
THE BAD
– Only one forced fumble through three seasons. Would like to see him jar the ball free more often
– Production in TFL and sacks took a slight dip in 2025
– Would like to see more counter moves as a pass rusher when the first move doesn’t work
– Athleticism doesn’t bring a ton of upside
– Not a lot of lateral quickness
– Not explosive off the line of scrimmage
– Lack of flexibility when trying to bend the corner against tackles
STATS
– Career: 73 solo tackles, 109 combined tackles, 19.5 TFL, 10 sacks, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble
– 2023: 35 combined tackles, 3.5 TFL, one sack, one pass defended
– 2024: 45 combined tackles, 11 TFL, seven sacks, one pass defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble
– 2025: 29 combined tackles, five TFL, two sacks, four passes defended, one fumble recovery
– 37 total games through three seasons, all with Auburn (2023-25)
INJURY HISTORY
– 2023: Wore a non-contact jersey during fall camp, dealt with minor injury that was never specified, missed no games
– 2024: Went down with injuries twice in Week 6 against Georgia, but managed to finish game
– 2025: Left game early in Week 11 against Mercer with a minor injury, but returned the following week
BACKGROUND
– DOB: Sept. 7, 2004 (21-years old)
– Hometown: Ramer, AL
– Attended Highland Home High School in Highland Home, AL
– Consensus four-star recruit out of high school
– Originally committed to Florida State, but flipped to Auburn, spent all three years with the Tigers
– Game captain for all 12 games in 2025
– Enjoys hunting and fishing
– Awards: 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist, 2025 Third-Team All SEC, 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council, 2023 All-SEC Freshman Team
TAPE BREAKDOWN
When watching Keldric Faulk, the intensity he brings to the field is one of the first things to jump off the tape. He’s very strong and likes to jump all over opposing offensive linemen. He doesn’t exactly fly off the ball, but often times, his strength at the point of attack is enough to give him a head start against his opponent.
Here, Faulk beats the left tackle with pure strength. He doesn’t get off the line especially fast, but immediately gives the linemen a jolt, pushing him back into his quarterback and disrupting the pocket.
However, overall athleticism and agility is a small problem for Faulk. He wins with strength and has some nice moves, but he doesn’t bring the same athleticism to the position that other edge rushers do.
Here, Faulk rushes from the right side of the frame. Taylen Green is an athletic quarterback, but Faulk should have him dead to rights here. Unfortunately, he’s just not quick enough to bring him down, and it results in a small gain.
However, that doesn’t mean Faulk isn’t athletic at all. He still moves as well as he needs to most of the time, especially when coming down across the line of scrimmage.
Rushing from the left, he’s left alone here as the offense isn’t expecting him to get into the backfield this fast. But he puts himself in position and flies across the line to bring the ballcarrier down from behind.
Faulk has good length, and a solid arsenal of pass moves. And when he gets his hands in the right spot on initial contact, he’s good at freeing himself from blocks. However, his hand placement can still use some work.
When Faulk doesn’t initially get his hands in the right spot, he doesn’t have much of a counter. Here, he’s rushing from in between the left tackle and guard. The lineman does a good job with his initial attack, and Faulk just doesn’t have much of a counter afterwards.
While he struggles sometimes to get off blocks as a pass rusher, that’s not an issue against the run. Faulk is much better in that regard
Faulk is aligned over the outside edge of the left tackle. The tight end tries to seal him inside, but Faulk does a great job to fend him off, fill the gap, and make the tackle.
Faulk would also do better with some more flexibility.
Coming across the left side here, Faulk does a great job with his hands to fight off the tackle. However, he just doesn’t have enough bend to wrap the corner and actually get to the quarterback. He has the tools, strength and technique to win as a pass rusher. But his bend isn’t especially impressive, and he’s not quick enough to make up for it. That may limit him somewhat at the NFL level.
CONCLUSION
Any team that drafts Keldric Faulk knows they’re getting a stout run defender. He isn’t especially flashy, but he just gets the job done against the run. He has the length and strength to shed blocks consistently. On the edge, he’s nearly impossible for run blockers to seal off. He understands where pullers are coming from and either slides under them or simply obliterates them. He’s a disciplined player, who you can get away with sticking pretty much anywhere on the defensive line. All of those tools give him a high floor.
However, his ceiling is a little more of a question. Faulk will need to grow a little as a pass rusher. He has a variety of moves he likes to work with, which is good. However, he doesn’t have any dominant move, and when his initial plan doesn’t work, there isn’t much in the way of a counter. He also doesn’t have a ton of flexibility or quickness to get around the corner, like more athletic edge rushers do. Finally, his strength at the point of attack is somewhat nullified by a pedestrian get off.
That said, Faulk is a quality player who certainly will hold down a spot on an NFL team. He’s also just 21, so there is plenty of time for him to grow. I’m confident Faulk will be a good run defender. If he develops more as a pass rusher, he could be a terrific defender in the NFL. Faulk reminds me a lot of Tyree Wilson, who came out of Texas Tech in 2023. Wilson has failed to progress much with Las Vegas, but I have higher expectations for Faulk.
NFL Projection: Late-First Round
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.5 (Long-Time Starter)
Grade Range: 7.7-8.8
Games Watched: Arkansas (2025), Kentucky (2025), Baylor (2025)
Recommended for you