Jake Kreul

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 230 on Oklahoma's roster, Kreul is a lean, long-armed edge body rather than a hand-in-the-dirt interior lineman. His testing profile is where the athletic case is made: a 1.65-second 10-yard split and a 4.18 short shuttle at camps signal elite first-step burst and change of direction for an edge, and 247Sports scouting director Andrew Ivins described him as an extremely efficient mover who can plant and redirect with little wasted motion. The frame carries room for another 15-20 pounds without sacrificing that twitch, which is the development path to a 245-250 pound SEC starter. He will not overwhelm anyone on the hoof, and stored measurables from his commitment are likely stale after a college strength program.

Play Style

Kreul plays like a technician with a motor. He attacks the outside shoulder with a quick first step, keeps his hands active and independent, and uses the dip-and-rip to flatten to the quarterback. When the initial move is stopped he does not stall; he counters inside or chases the play down, which is where a lot of his TFL and hurry production came from. He plays with leverage and bend rather than bulk, redirects cleanly in space, and closes on ball carriers from the backside. Teammates at Oklahoma describe him as a 'freak' in practice, and coaches point to his preparation and questioning approach as much as his athleticism.

Strengths

• Advanced pass-rush toolbox for his age: dips, rips and swipes through and around blockers, and can win early with the get-off or late with counters and hustle (Ivins evaluation).
• Production against elite competition: 36 tackles, 16 TFL, 15 QB hurries, 4 sacks and 3 forced fumbles as a senior on a 9-0 IMG Academy team ranked #7 nationally, after 12 TFL and 6 sacks as a junior.
• Camp and all-star dominance: named 247Sports 'Alpha Dog' at the Under Armour Next Miami camp, then recorded a sack, TFL and hurry in the Under Armour All-America Game and a sack and TFL in the Polynesian Bowl.
• Football IQ and coachability: OU edge Taylor Wein said Kreul was better than he was as a true freshman and 'blows up my phone 24/7 with the best questions'; DE coach Miguel Chavis said he rarely sees a freshman with that level of knowledge in 12 years of coaching.

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and anchor at 230 pounds. He needs functional mass to set a firm edge against SEC tackles and tight ends on early downs without giving ground on double teams.
• Converting speed to power. His rush profile is finesse and technique-driven; adding a reliable bull rush and long-arm would make him a complete three-down rusher rather than a situational one.
• Sack conversion. Sixteen TFL and 15 hurries against 4 sacks as a senior suggests he gets home to the pocket more than he finishes; closing burst and finishing angles are the next step.

College Projection

Situational third-down rusher as a true freshman in 2026, working behind veteran edges in a Brent Venables rotation that deliberately cycles bodies up front. Coaches identified Kreul and UTSA transfer Kenny Ozowalu as the two candidates to earn obvious-passing-down snaps, and spring and fall camp reports put him ahead of the normal freshman curve. Expect a full-time starting role by 2027 once he reaches 245 pounds, with multi-year All-SEC upside given his production floor and testing ceiling.

NFL Outlook

Legitimate NFL draft prospect. Ivins's evaluation states his testing profile and competitive drive signal he will make an impact at the Power Four level and eventually become a pro. Lean, twitchy, technically advanced edges with a 1.65 10-yard split and sub-4.2 shuttle are exactly what NFL teams draft in the first two rounds if the weight comes without losing burst. The primary risk to his draft ceiling is size: if he tops out near 240 he profiles as a 3-4 stand-up rusher or designated pass rusher rather than an every-down 4-3 end.

Best Fit

An aggressive, multiple front that lets him rush from a wide alignment and stand up on passing downs, which is what he chose in Venables's defense at Oklahoma. He is best deployed as a designated rusher early, then as a full-time weak-side end once he adds mass. Programs with strong veteran edge mentorship benefit him disproportionately because of how much he seeks out coaching and film study.