When the Miami Dolphins selected Kyle Louis in the fourth round of the NFL Draft 138th overall Saturday, the matter of where Pitt’s former standout linebacker would land at the next level was settled.
For the time being, so was his role, as Louis was announced as a linebacker.
Louis, who had to wait his turn until the final day of the draft, became the 304th player in Panthers program history to be chosen in the NFL Draft and the 32nd under current coach Pat Narduzzi.
The Shark is now a Fin ????????
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 25, 2026
With the 138th pick, we have selected Kyle Louis from @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/TLFTqk052Y
Louis played linebacker exclusively in college, but the versatility he showcased against the run, in coverage and as a blitzer generated questions as to where he’d best fit in as a pro.
“Wherever I can fit in, that’s where I can fit in,” Louis said at Pitt’s Pro Day in March. “Even if it’s special teams, I’m just ready to work.”
The body of work Louis put together over two years as a starter at Pitt demonstrated that he could be a player to blur the lines between positions.
“Kyle is everything you want in a young man representing your team,” Narduzzi said in a statement Saturday. “What makes him special is the way he approaches every day. He’s a competitor who is always looking for more work and more ways to make himself and the guys around him better.
“I saw him grow from a talented young player into the leader of our team and he earned every bit of that. Coach (Jeff) Hafley and Dolphins aren’t just getting a great player. They’re getting someone who will elevate everyone in that locker room and shine brightest when the spotlight is at its biggest.”
A second-team All-American in 2024 and two-time All-ACC selection, Louis amassed 182 total tackles from 2024-25.
He also displayed a knack for penetrating past the line of scrimmage, as he racked up 15.5 tackles for loss two seasons ago and 8.5 last fall, as well as 10 sacks.
In coverage, Louis also shined, recording six interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
At the NFL Combine, Louis ran a 4.53 40-yard dash and had a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump.
“My best instinct is coverage,” Louis said at the Combine. “I’m just a film junkie so I jump plays. I cheat a lot of plays just so I can jump it. If I see it coming, I’m going to make a play. I’m trying to be a ballplayer and get the ball by any means.”
Louis will need to continue working at a high level and keep up his trademark intensive film sessions in order to secure a 53-man roster spot and role.
He said he doesn’t plan on sacrificing the versatility that got him this far.
“The league is constantly changing, especially now,” Louis said at the NFL Combine. “And people like me is what the league needs. I feel like the league is definitely becoming a passing league, and I feel like as an all-three-downs linebacker, (playing against) 12 personnel (two tight ends), any heavy personnel — on top of that, I can still cover. It’s on top of (excelling in the run game). It’s not taking away that I can’t do any run defense. It’s added on top of it.”
