Small-school sleeper explodes onto Jaguars' draft radar at NFL Combine

It's no secret the Jacksonville Jaguars need help on defense this offseason, especially if All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd walks in free agency.

The NFL Scouting Combine isn't the end-all, be-all for the draft's top prospects, yet the Underwear Olympics can create clarity when the players check off key boxes via athletic testing. A possible Lloyd replacement revealed himself on Day 1 of workouts in Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

But linebacker isn't the only position the Jags could bolster for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. They need pass rush help in the trenches, and one small-school sleeper's Combine might've vaulted him into Jacksonville's Day 2 conversations.

SE Louisiana DL Kaleb Proctor flashes phenomenal athleticism at NFL Scouting Combine

Southeastern Louisiana defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor was always going to face an uphill battle to get on NFL Draft radars given his less-heralded college program. However, to his credit, Prcotor made the most of his opportunity to shine for pro talent evaluators in Indianapolis.

After logging eight sacks in his final collegiate season, Proctor put on a dazzling Combine display that showcased his top-flight physical tools. It should help him shoot up from his 108th position on the latest consensus big board.

Southeast Louisiana actually listed Proctor at 6'3", 280 pounds, but he's actually an inch shorter and eleven pounds heavier, per his Combine measurements. The fact that he can roll like that in the 40-yard dash at 291 pounds is wild, no?

Take a look at some of Proctor's cutups from Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports to see what type of uniquely explosive talent this man is:

if given the free rein to be a designated pass rusher in Jacksonville, Proctor would likely flourish with the likes of Arik Armstead next to him at defensive tackle. Not to mention, having Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker screaming in off the edge will only create more favorable matchups for Proctor to exploit.

The Jags had the sixth-fewest sacks in the league during the 2025 campaign. They have Armstead and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton on expiring contracts. With at least one of their three third-round picks, they could take a crack at Proctor.

Jacksonville GM James Gladstone really made an impression in the Los Angeles Rams front office by spearheading efforts to find diamonds in the rough via the draft. Proctor is the type of low-key prospect who's in Gladstone's wheelhouse.

Now that the Jags' regime of Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen have such a good organizational infrastructure in place, they should be an ideal place for Proctor to make the jump to NFL competition and develop well.

Even in the post-Aaron Donald Rams era, they were exceptional at finding defensive line talent in the draft. Kobie Turner, Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Braden Fiske are just some of the recent big names. Who's to say that Gladstone won't score another phenom in that vein in Kaleb Proctor during the 2026 NFL Draft?

If Proctor's athletic attributes can translate to immediate pass rush production, the aforementioned firepower on the Jags' d-line, blended with a secondary anchored by Travis Hunter and Antonio Johnson, would give Jacksonville's pass defense a big boost in 2026.