Mikail Kamara

NFL Draft Profile: Mikail Kamara

Position: EDGE / Defensive End | School: Indiana (via James Madison)

Class: Redshirt Senior | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 265 lbs | Archetype: Pass Rusher (Power Rusher)

College Career Summary

Mikail Kamara’s journey from a Group of Five standout at James Madison to a First-Team All-Big Ten force at Indiana is a masterclass in technical development. At JMU, he was a high-volume disruptor, but his 2024 season in the Big Ten—following coach Curt Cignetti—silenced all "level of competition" doubters. Kamara finished 2024 with 10.0 sacks and 15.0 TFLs, leading the Hoosiers to a historic winning season. In 2025, despite seeing a statistical dip in raw sack numbers (due to seeing constant double-teams and chips), he remained the spiritual leader of the defense. His "STUD" position allowed him to showcase versatility as a hybrid linebacker and defensive end, proving that his low center of gravity and violent hand usage can neutralize even the most athletic Power-5 tackles.

Highlight Career Stats:

• Games Played: 47 (46 Starts)

• Total Tackles: 151

• Tackles For Loss (TFL): 46.0 (5.0 in 2025)

• Sacks: 23.5 (1.0 in 2025)

• Forced Fumbles: 7

• Career Note: 1st Team All-Big Ten (2024), 2nd Team All-Sun Belt (2023).

2025 Season Game-by-Game Grades

Opponent	Stats	Grade	Key Performance Note
vs. Old Dominion	1 Tkl	B-	Consistent pressure but struggled to finish at the QB.
vs. Kennesaw St.	5 Tkl, 1.0 Sk, 2.0 TFL	A+	Season Best. Two TFLs on one drive; total dominance.
vs. Indiana State	1 PD	B	Swatted a pass; played limited snaps in a blowout.
vs. Illinois	0 Stats	C+	Neutralized by heavy chipping; struggled with length.
@ Iowa	2 Tkl, 1 QBH	B	Gritty Mental Toughness game in a physical trench war.
@ No. 5 Oregon	2 Tkl, 1 QBH	B+	High Pursuit; pressured the Heisman candidate twice.
vs. Michigan State	2 Tkl, 0.5 TFL	B	Solid edge setting; played with a High Motor.
vs. UCLA	2 Tkl, 0.5 TFL	B+	Great Play Recognition on a 2nd quarter screen.
@ Maryland	2 Tkl	B-	Steady presence but lacked the "twitch" to finish sacks.
@ Penn State	2 Tkl, 0.5 TFL, 1 QBH	A-	Leadership. Carried the front in a major road win.
vs. Wisconsin	3 Tkl	B	Stout against the run; forced plays back inside.
@ Purdue	4 Tkl, 1.0 TFL	A-	High Competitor drive in the bucket game.
B1G Champ: vs. OSU	1 Tkl, 0.5 TFL	B+	Battle-tested; fought through double teams all night.

Scouting Report

Strengths

• Leverage King: At 6'1", Kamara naturally wins the height battle. He gets under the pads of 6'6" tackles and uses his Strength to drive them into the quarterback's lap.

• Violent Hands: His Technique is elite. He possesses a refined "push-pull" and a "long-arm" stab that belies his lack of traditional length.

• Experience & Durability: 46 career starts. He is medically clean and has shown the Stamina to play 50+ snaps a game in the most physical conference in football.

• Position Versatility: Capable of playing the "STUD" role, standing up as an OLB or putting his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 DE.

Weaknesses

• Lacks Prototypical Length: His 6'1" frame is a significant outlier for NFL Edge rushers. This limits his "margin for error" against tackles with 35-inch arms.

• High-End Twitch: He is more of a "grinder" than a pure "burner." His Speed is adequate but he won't beat NFL speed-merchants purely with his get-off.

• Finish Rate: His 2025 tape showed a high number of "near misses." He needs to improve his Agility to close that final yard when the QB steps up in the pocket.

Scheme Fit: Ideal 3-4 Outside Linebacker or a Specialist 4-3 Defensive End in a heavy-stunt system.

NFL Comparison: James Houston (Lions) / Brandon Graham (lite)

Scout’s Final Word & Projection

Intangibles: 19/20 | Physical Tools: 14/20 | Attributes: 18/20 | Athleticism: 16/20 | IQ: 18/20

Final Grade: 85/100

Mikail Kamara is the type of player who makes scouts argue. One group will see his 6'1" height and move him down the board; the other will see his 46.0 career TFLs and 23.5 sacks and call him a "ballplayer." Kamara is a technician who wins with Mental Toughness and weight-room strength. While he may never be a 15-sack-a-year superstar in the NFL, his floor is an elite rotational piece who can set a hard edge on 1st down and provide interior pressure on 3rd. His 2024 "breakout" was no fluke, but his 2025 "containment" role showed he is a selfless Team Player.

Draft Projection: 4th - 5th Round (Strong special teams value adds to his draft stock)

Would