Mikail Kamara

● Wide-hipped frame with adequate mass and arm length ● Short-area quickness to work his way around roadblocks ● Plays with determination to attack gaps or get blockers on their heels ● Relentless with his hands; pulls out all his tricks (swats, rips, swipes, spins) ● Physicality shows in the run game to free himself ● Flashes a closing burst when he has a clear lane to the ball ● NFL scouts say he works at his craft inside and outside the building ● Pivotal blocked punt in national championship game ● Stayed healthy as an upperclassman — played all 29 games past two seasons

● Unique body type — doesn’t have ideal length for what some schemes require ● Long-armed blockers can slow his rush by getting into his frame ● Can be overpowered once latching hands get a hold of him ● Speed-to-power attempts need better consistency ● Cleaned up missed tackles in 2025 but can get better with break-down mechanics ● Didn’t look comfortable dropping into zones ● History of shoulder issues, which started after he suffered a broken left clavicle in middle school. Played through shoulder discomfort in high school but had surgery after arriving at JMU to repair a partially torn labrum; played through dislocations in both shoulders during the 2021 spring season before electing to address the injuries, which required separate surgeries just six weeks apart and sidelined him for the 2021 fall season; missed 6 games as a redshirt sophomore because of high ankle sprain (Oct. 2022).

A two-year starter at Indiana (and a starter for three-and-a-half years overall), Kamara was an edge defender in defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme. He battled injuries as an underclassman before a breakout at James Madison in 2023. He was part of the core group of JMU players that followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Bloomington, where Kamara became an All-American in 2024. His production dipped in 2025, but his impact was still present, as he helped the Hoosiers to a national title. Kamara is a uniquely built player who understands how to use his strengths to put heat on the quarterback (127 combined pressures over the past two seasons). He plays urgently off the ball, with flexibility in his movements and physical hands to soften edges. He shows a feel for when to counter in his pass rush and uses evasion techniques to keep blockers off him. However, he can get stalled on the edges when strong-gripped blockers connect. Overall, Kamara doesn’t have the size or athletic profile most teams desire, but you feel his impact during games. It won’t be surprising if that carries over to his professional career.