‘Ferocious’ – Kamara Keeps Aiming Higher
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Mikail Kamara won’t hide it, the goals he sets, the expectations he has, the determination that fuels it.
The Indiana senior wants to be the best college defensive lineman on the planet if possible, the best in the Big Ten at minimum, and if that seems like an over-reach, if the targeted 20 sacks for this season seem unrealistic, well, you don’t know him and haven’t seen what he can do on a football field.
Hoosier running back Kaelon Black has seen it, the way the 6-foot-1, 262-pound Kamara ruins offense during IU’s drills, practices, and scrimmages. Black compares him to NFL standout linebackers Khalil Mack and Von Miller.
“He’s ferocious,” Black says. “He’s always been a tough guy for us to scheme up for in practice. He’s made a lot of strides in getting better. When you come out to get extra work, he’s always out there getting extra work. He’s a great player.”
Kamara thrives with visualization -- see it happen, make it happen.
“I visualize it all the time,” he says. “You have to aim higher than you can even believe. If you aim higher and fall, you’ll still be spectacular.
“I set the goal at 20 sacks. Worse case, I still break the (IU) sack record.”
That would be 16 sacks, set by Greg Middleton in 2007.
“If you set your goals high every time you get on the field,” Kamara says, “you have that in mind. It’s why I have to go extra on this rep in practice or on this sprint.
“Every time you set higher goals and expectations, when it starts to get hard, you realize why you’re doing it, what work is necessary to achieve it.”
Kamara’s fierce belief in himself comes from relentless work -- on his fitness, his strength, his technique. Kamara says he didn’t take a day off in the off season, didn’t have a bad workout.
If others want to under-estimate him, under-value him, well, somebody on the field will pay. He aims to be the most physical player in every game.
Kamara’s motivation is years in the making, fueled in part after generating zero recruiting stars and no major college interest coming out of Virginia’s Stone Bridge High School despite totaling 31.0 sacks in his last two seasons while helping the Bulldogs to a pair of state 5-A runner-up finishes.
He plays with a chip on his shoulder, plays to prove doubters wrong, plays to be the best because that’s how he sees himself if others do not.
Last season, that led to 15.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks, with 47 total tackles. Kamara also had a team-leading six quarterback hurries, recovered three fumbles, forced two, and broke up a pass.
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines figures to free up Kamara to do even more damage this season. Kamara is all in and has the fitness to do it.
“The biggest thing for me is my motor. I felt like it was great last year, but I feel like I left a couple plays out there, motor wise. It's just playing harder every play.
“I've gotten bigger, faster, stronger. My mental approach has hardened.”
All-America linebacker Aiden Fisher benefits from Kamara’s attacking nature. He celebrated when Kamara chose to pass on NFL opportunity and return to the Hoosiers.
“I’ve seen him take so many steps from taking care of his body to being a leader,” Fisher says. “He’s everything you want in a leader on the defensive line. It’s been amazing to keep this thing going with him."
Kamara’s record quest comes with confidence gained from practice battles with standout offensive tackle Carter Smith, who praises Kamara’s improvement.
“He gets better every day. Whether it’s a little faster off the edge, he always keeps me on my toes.
“He gets a little better. I get a little better. It keeps on stacking. That competition has been good for both of us. I think it’s rubbing off on some of the other players on the D-line. Some of the transfers (Stephen Daley from Kent State and Kellan Wyatt out of Maryland), they’re all buying into his culture and going hard as they can every play.”
That approach is why Kamara loved it when IU switched to pads during camp.
“The best way to describe it is it’s Game Day every day. In fall camp, every day is a game day, it’s 1-on-1s, it’s game speed. In team periods, it’s good on good. Everything we did in camp was with a game-day mentality.”
The ultimate goal is to have a dominating defense, a game-changing defense, a defense that can help the Hoosiers surpass last season’s 11-2 record. Kamara sets the example for others to follow.
“The biggest thing in practice, when it comes to (individual) period and we’re doing drills,” he says, “is to start off in the front and give everyone a visual on how to get it done. When it comes to the film room, make sure I’m vocal, so when I see someone make a mistake, or make a good play, make sure my voice is heard so they understand how to get it done.
“When it comes to team period, make sure I’m bringing energy the entire time. If I drag, everyone will think it’s okay to drag. I make sure everyone raises up to my energy, to our standard.”