2024 NFL Draft Profile: Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara

Some players pursuing an NFL career have one very strong college season, then struggle to replicate it for the rest of their playing days. Colorado State

© HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Some players pursuing an NFL career have one very strong college season, then struggle to replicate it for the rest of their playing days. Colorado State defensive end Mohamed Kamara doesn't seem like one of those players. Throughout his time in Fort Collins, he continued to get better and better every season.

Kamara had the eye of NFL Draft analysts fairly early in his college career and will get his chance to cross over into the league this April in Detroit. 

Take a look at the other important info regarding the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. 

Background

Measurements: 6'1", 250 pounds

A New Jersey native, Kamara made his way west to CSU in 2019 after decommiting from Temple. While Colorado State has had three head coaches since he joined the program, Kamara has been impressively consistent.

Kamara was at least a part-time starter all five seasons at CSU, totaling 49 appearances. In his final two seasons under Jay Norvell, Kamara seemed to blossom as he became a a full-time starter.

In five seasons with the Rams, Kamara posted 45.5 TFL and 30.5 sacks. His sack total is the second-highest in Mountain West history. In 2022 and 2023, he had 16 and 17 TFLs, respectively. He was an All-Mountain West selection in both of those season. In 2023, Kamara was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a grad student.

RELATED: 2024 NFL Draft Profile: UTEP LB Tyrice Knight

The Strengths

ESPN's Mel Kiper has Kamara ranked as the #6 edge player in this draft class for a reason. His frame, his arm length, his penetration ability, all lend themselves nicely to what's expected of edge players in the modern NFL. 

That expectation, essentially, is to make the quarterback uncomfortable. In the last 18 years of FBS football, about 40 players have totaled 30 or more sacks. Kamara is one of them.

Kamara played out of several different stances in several different alignments in college. Those changeups didn't seem to slow him down much, if at all. His best option seems like it's beating opposing tackles around the edge with that speed. In college, he definitely won more than a few bull-rush type situations, but that will obviously be much harder at the next level.

Combine Stats

40-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds (third among defensive ends)

10-Yard Split: 1.58 seconds (third among defensive ends)

Vertical Jump: 34.50"

Broad Jump: 10'3"

3-Cone Drill: N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bench Press: 23 reps (tied for fourth among defensive ends)

What's Next

Kamara's combine performance went well, demonstrating an athleticism that was already very apparent in his play. He wasn't one of those guys whose All-Star game workouts went dramatically well, but he's shown good effort and sound fundamentals. He'll be a day two selection in all likelihood, it's just a matter of where in that range.