Keldric Faulk is a 6’6”, 285lbs edge rusher from Highland Home High School in Alabama, where he quickly became one of the most physically imposing defensive players in America. He tallied 82 tackles, 11 sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in high school, which are numbers that caught many scouts’ eyes. His performance helped him gain status, and he was selected to participate in the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and the 2023 All-American Bowl. A well-regarded four-star recruit, Faulk was ranked #64 nationally, #10 amongst edge rushers, and #9 in the state of Alabama. Right from the jump, he possessed a massive frame and rare length, which made him a great dual-sport athlete in basketball. He originally committed to Florida State before deciding to stay home and commit to Auburn. Since landing at Auburn in 2023, he has continued to grow into a disruptive presence on the line of scrimmage, earning 2023 SEC All-Freshman honors and being selected to the All-SEC Third-Team in 2025. From 2023-2025, he racked up 95 total pressures, 13 sacks, 73 hurries, 88 tackles, and 80 run stops, establishing himself in multiple 3-4-5 techniques. Faulk dealt with several minor injuries during his time with the Tigers, but none resulted in missing games. It is important to note that although his pass-rush ability or speed doesn’t jump off the charts, he has proven his dominance as a run defender and his ability to process. His impact is felt more inside and in tight alignments with power and strength, rather than with elite bend or twitch off the edge.
Faulk demonstrates the physical attributes necessary for the NFL, with his long arms, wide shoulders, and strong natural foundation, which enable him to dominate at the point of attack. His build, along with his unique combination of power and strength at the point of attack, allows him to keep his anchor intact. His play strength also stands out as one of his most important qualities, as he can effectively push opponents backward in isolation during one-on-ones. Additionally, he succeeds in stopping multiple blockers when facing double teams, allowing his teammates to hit the run fits and make tackles effectively. His interior gap attacks display solid acceleration and burst; however, he lacks the necessary twitch and bend skills to maintain consistent threats from his 5-technique and wide-9 alignment positions. He operates at an extremely advanced mental capacity. He uses advanced recognition skills to process blocking schemes and track pullers while executing stunts and twists with discipline. His competitive toughness and motor consistently show up in the pocket, specifically against structured QB runs, misdirection plays, and other power concepts. His play speed can be inconsistent early in reps, but once he diagnoses the play, he closes with urgency and controlled violence.
As a pass rusher, Faulk uses power as his primary asset to win reps, demonstrating strong bull-rush ability and long-arm leverage, along with functional swim and rip techniques to bring down opposing quarterbacks. He performs best when operating from 3-technique and 4i positions because these setups enable him to pursue guards while using stunts to create open rushing lanes. His pass-rush technique shows deficiencies because he lacks proper bend and counter moves. He needs to refine that aspect of his game and not rely on his physical power within his structure; he should focus more on developing quicker movements and side-to-side agility. His hand usage is decent because he has heavy hands that enable him to maintain grip control in all situations, while his run defense shows he can break free from blocks through his extension and anchoring. He tends to expose his upper body during pass-rushing attempts, allowing offensive tackles to strike him first and prevent him from securing quick victories. Faulk demonstrates elite skills when stopping opposing running plays. He maintains proper gap control, quickly identifies pulling players, and establishes himself as a solid anchor point, using his arm span and upper-body strength to limit running paths. His ability to establish solid boundary lines, drive opponents to either side, and maintain his standing position allows him to succeed as one of the most dependable run stoppers in his draft class. His initial movement speed functions adequately but lacks explosive power, enabling him to demonstrate effective timing during interior attacks and stunts, yet failing to provide him with a strong initial movement capability from wide positions.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Faulk projects best as a 3–4 defensive end or 4i-technique in an odd front where he can control B and C gaps and work within interior stunt packages. He can also reduce inside as a 3-technique in sub-packages or serve as a base end in even fronts if needed. His impact is maximized when he attacks guards to compress space instead of being used as a speed edge rusher. Three teams that fit these schematic needs are the Steelers, Ravens and Falcons.
NFL Player Comp: Tyree Wilson
Keldric Faulk’s game has a strong resemblance to Tyree Wilson in the way they use their power and strength to leverage at the point of attack. They both possess massive frames, hand size, and arm length, which help their ability to stop the run at an elite level. Their alignment is also similar in the way they can line up across 3-4i-5 techniques, making them both versatile. Neither demonstrates great twitch, burst or bend, which limits their pass rush plan consistently. Overall, they share the same identity with power, their roles and responsibilities, and even have similar atmospheres around their names as prospects.
Projection: High End NFL Starter
Although Faulk is a raw prospect with much-needed pass-rush refinement and bend ability, he will still be valuable for any NFL team. His interior versatility, ability to process, and stop the run at one of the highest levels in the country make him an asset to any franchise willing to take the chance on him. He already has a high floor because of those distinct abilities. Faulk may look to move inside at the next level because of his proven dominance inside versus his inconsistency on the edge, and that is better for his long-term development.
Grade and Round Projection: 5.92, Late 1st/Early 2nd Round Pick
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