In an unexpected twist in the 2024 NFL Draft, Colorado State’s standout edge rusher, Mohamed Kamara, found himself being significantly underestimated, despite a stellar college football season. Kamara, known for his formidable ability to sack the quarterback, tied for the fourth-highest total in the nation last season with 13 sacks. Yet, this impressive statistic wasn’t enough to prevent his fall to the fifth round, where he was finally picked by the Miami Dolphins as the 158th overall selection.
The skill of getting to the quarterback is highly prized in the NFL, often overshadowing other abilities on the field. This makes the overlooking of Kamara’s talents all the more puzzling and has sparked a mixture of emotions for him. While he expressed excitement about joining the Miami Dolphins, he didn’t hide his frustration about the delay in being drafted.
Kamara shared his feelings during a video call with reporters, his words echoing a deep-seated determination, “To be honest, I’m very excited, but I also am very, very angry going the round that I did,” Kamara’s statement, as reported by Pro Football Talk, revealed a young athlete ready to channel his anger into performance. He added, “That’s just my personality.
I knew I could’ve gone higher and I wanted to go higher, but the lovely team of Miami picked me up and I’m going to give them that burning desire. I have a chip on my shoulder, so it just got even greater.
Everybody else, all 31 other teams, look out, because the way I’m about to play against these guys, you should’ve picked me before.”
For the Miami Dolphins, Kamara’s fiery resolve and sense of being undervalued could spell good fortune. Players with something to prove often push their limits, striving to make a statement against those who doubted them.
Kamara’s potent combination of skill and sheer determination makes him a player to watch as he embarks on his NFL career, ready to prove that he was worth more than a fifth-round pick. The rest of the league may well regret letting such a driven and talented player slip through their fingers.