Pass-rushing defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor to make Packers pre-draft visit
· Yahoo Sports
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
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GREEN BAY – Only the fifth Southeastern Louisiana player in 25 years to receive an NFL scouting combine invitation, Kaleb Proctor has had a remarkable year.
Barely noticed as a linebacker coming out of high school, Proctor needed three seasons to arrive on scouts’ radar.
Proctor hit his stride during his senior year, when he produced nine sacks and a recorded 39 pressures. If there was a question about how he would stack up against higher-level talent, it might have been answered when he had two sacks and three tackles for loss against LSU.
Then, at the combine, the 6-foot-2, 291-pound Proctor ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds, the shuttle in 4.71 seconds and registered a 33-inch vertical leap.
His 40-yard dash was the second-fastest among 15 defensive tackles who ran and 16th among all defensive linemen.
Proctor is scheduled to take a top-30 visit with the Green Bay Packers, a source said.
A walk-on at Southeastern Louisiana, Proctor had to put on weight in order to play on the defensive line and it took him awhile to get his footing.
He became a starter in 2023 and finished with 26 tackles and 1½ sacks. In ’24, he registered 49 tackles and 4½ sacks, earning second-team all-Southland Conference honors.
His breakout came last year, when he was named Southland Conference defensive player of the year and earned second-team AP FCS All-American honors. He increased his sack total to nine and tackles for loss to 13.
“It’s a surreal moment to be here,” Proctor said at the combine. “I had a chance to leave my junior year and had all the NIL money thrown at me, but the guys that I came in with are the real reason I stayed. They’ll be at my wedding someday, and I wanted to be beside them through my last year and my journey to get here.”
Proctor is undersized for an interior defensive lineman, but his ability to rush the passer will make him popular given how often teams play nickel without a true nose tackle. His 33-inch arms will serve him well on the interior, although playing the run in the NFL will be a different challenge for him.
The Packers will play with bigger defensive linemen under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, but there always is room for someone who can get after the quarterback.
Proctor intends to put on weight but will see where he gets drafted and what position he plays to see how much he needs.
“Gaining weight has been an aspect I worked on,” Proctor said, “and some people looked at it negatively, being small but showing up to the combine and showing up here, getting to perform the best I could, has been a big goal in my mind.”
Kaleb Proctor’s NFL scouting combine results
- 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash
- 33-inch vertical jump
- 9-foot-5 broad jump
- 4.71 seconds in the shuttle
- Arms are 33 inches
- Hands are 9½ inches
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Pass-rushing defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor Packers pre-draft visit