Summary

Keldric Faulk (20 years old) is a powerful, ascending defensive end who has played his entire college career at Auburn, emerging as one of the youngest impact defenders in his class. In 2025, Faulk started throughout the season and recorded 29 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks, serving as Auburn’s primary edge disruptor while earning First-Team All-SEC honors and establishing himself as one of the conference’s most productive pass rushers. A business major, Faulk has been recognized within the program for his steady academic progress and mature approach despite his age, often praised by staff for how quickly he’s taken on leadership responsibility in the defensive front. A former multi-sport athlete in high school with a basketball background, Faulk credits his lateral quickness and ability to redirect in space to that experience, and Auburn coaches have noted his rare combination of size and movement skills as a defining trait. Voted a young team captain as a junior, he is widely viewed as a physically dominant, high-upside defender whose power, length, and practice intensity consistently stand out, with teammates highlighting his rapid development and coachability as indicators of his long-term ceiling. Unlike traditional edge rushers who stay on the outside, Faulk played nearly 31% of his snaps on the interior (defensive tackle) in 2025, showcasing versatility but also hampering production. From an injury standpoint, Faulk has been durable throughout his career finishing his Auburn career having played in all 38 games possible across three seasons, never missing a single contest due to injury.

Strengths

Vines for Arms: Wins early with long 34 3/8” arms and separation ability and natural knock-back. When he locks out, tackles struggle to get into his chest. Despite his massive frame, he was clocked at a top speed of 20.2 mph on GPS tracking during a game—a speed usually reserved for linebackers and tight ends.
True Edge-Setter: Plays square, squeezes gaps, and doesn’t give up his outside shoulder easily. Understands rush lane integrity. Strong-side run defender right now, not just projection. Frame and power translate well to kicking inside on passing downs against guards.
Bricks for Hands: When he lands first strike, you see visible jolt. Can reset the line of scrimmage and collapse tight edges.
Linear Power Builds momentum through contact and can forklift tackles backward with a long-arm or inside hand stab. Rarely uprooted by tight ends and maintains base and absorbs down blocks without caving. In the weight room, he reportedly power cleans 330 pounds and vertical jumps 33 inches, which puts him in the 90th percentile for NFL edge rushers.

Weaknesses

Flexibility: Wins more vertically than around the arc and doesn’t consistently flatten tight enough to stress high-level tackles. When tackles redirect or short-set, he can look a half-beat stiff adjusting his path.
Ramp Up: More buildup power than twitch. Tackles can get into position before feeling true speed stress. Projects more as a hand-in-dirt 4-3 end than a stand-up 3-4 OLB with coverage flexibility.
Stagnant: If the initial long-arm/power rush stalls, he doesn’t always layer a quick counter to finish the rep. Needs a consistent secondary (cross-chop, inside spin, club-rip sequencing) to become more than a power-compression edge.
Physical vs. Production: The frame suggests dominant disruption, but snap-to-snap takeover stretches haven’t always matched that ceiling.

Outlook

Faulk projects as a long, powerful edge defender with a thick frame, heavy hands, and the ability to set a firm edge while collapsing the pocket with strength and effort. He fits best in 4-3 or hybrid multiple fronts that value strong-side defensive ends who can play through tight ends, reduce inside on passing downs, and win with power-to-speed rather than purely relying on bend around the arc. Faulk is trending as a Round 1 prospect with realistic top-25 upside in the 2026 NFL Draft, particularly because of his size, age, and developmental ceiling.

Pro Comparison: Tyree Wilson

Team Fits: NO, CAR, MIN, ARI, TB

Report written by Filip Prus