Bears Host FCS All-American Kurns, Pulling Tarleton State Corner Aside for Deeper Evaluation
Kasyus Kurns, who tied for the FCS lead with six interceptions in 2025, was pulled aside by the Bears for extended evaluation after drills at their local pro day.
When the Chicago Bears pulled Kasyus Kurns aside after drills at their local pro day Wednesday, it wasn't a courtesy nod to a hometown kid. It was a signal that the organization sees something worth a deeper look in the Tarleton State cornerback who spent the 2025 season taking the ball away from FCS offenses at a historic clip.
Kurns, a Chicago native, tied for the FCS lead with six interceptions during the regular season while averaging 0.5 picks per game, second-most in the subdivision. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior also added three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry, two tackles for loss, and 26 total tackles across 10 games. He transferred to Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas, from Fullerton College and spent the season turning the United Athletic Conference into a showcase for his NFL candidacy.
No moment encapsulated his value better than the trip to West Point. Kurns recorded two interceptions and a fumble recovery as Tarleton State knocked off FBS Army in double overtime, widely viewed as the biggest win in program history. He earned UAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition for the performance, a fitting reward for a player who delivered in the highest-stakes environment his team faced all year.
The 2025 season earned Kurns a spot among 30 finalists for the 31st Annual Buck Buchanan Award, the FCS Defensive Player of the Year honor administered by Stats Perform and named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan of Grambling State. He was also named to the Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team and earned recognition from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
It was the natural extension of a career trajectory that had been building for two years. In 2024, Kurns logged 64 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups, earning UAC Second Team All-Conference honors and entering 2025 as a preseason All-American. Tarleton State defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, who has more than 25 years of Division I coaching experience, called Kurns "one of the best leaders" he has been around in that span.
At his size, Kurns profiles as a press-man corner with elite ball-hawking instincts, a type that NFL teams are perpetually hunting. The Bears have a natural local rationale for hosting him, but being pulled aside for an extended evaluation after the on-field portion signals organizational interest that goes well beyond geography.
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