Colorado State EDGE Mo Kamara is among the most productive and athletic pass rushers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Kamara totaled 30.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for a loss as a consistent backfield threat for the Rams. Kamara then went to the NFL Combine and ran a 4.57 40 at nearly 250 pounds.
Kamara recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his performance at the NFL Combine, his pass-rush arsenal, debunking the “small school” and “undersized” narratives, and more.
JM: You put forth an outstanding performance at the NFL Combine. You ran a 4.57 40 at nearly 250 pounds. You also had a 34.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad. You were one of the most athletic defenders in attendance. How satisfied were you with the performance?
Mo Kamara: I was very satisfied. I believe I took advantage of my opportunity to showcase my abilities on the biggest pre-draft stage. I didn’t just do it at Pro Day. I went to the NFL Combine and displayed my athleticism.
JM: You put forth an outstanding showing. Have you noticed an uptick in attention you're receiving from NFL teams since then?
Mo Kamara: No, I would say it’s been pretty consistent throughout the entire pre-draft process. I think teams expected me to test well at the combine. My athleticism is evident on tape. Teams have shown consistent interest the whole time.
Attention started picking up right when I played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. I proved that I’m the same guy that rushed the passer on tape. I played well at that level of competition at Shrine.
JM; You've also been one of the most productive pass rushers in the nation. You had a career-high 13 sacks this season. You leave Colorado State with 30.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss. What is it about your game that allows you to make so many plays in the backfield?
Mo Kamara: I have a knack for making plays around the ball. I play with great technique as well. I’m always working on my technique. I want to continue being productive at the next level. I want to be a well-rounded player within all realms of myself and the game of football.
I spend a lot of time preparing for my opponents. I break down a lot of film, a lot of tape on upcoming opponents. That knowledge helped me make a lot of plays in the backfield. That’s what it comes down to.
Physical abilities can only take you so far. I prepare for all scenarios. That’s what helped me.
JM: It’s obvious on tape. How would you describe your pass rush arsenal? What are your go-to moves and counters?
Mo Kamara: My go-to move is speed. That’s the honest truth. Everything after speed is a counter off speed. It’s speed first and then the rest of my counter moves.
JM: You do a great job winning the corner. Do you have any Top 30 visits or virtual meetings coming up?
Mo Kamara: I have a few in-person visits coming up. I’m choosing to keep the list of teams private at this time. I’ll be pretty busy traveling around. The meetings have been going well!
JM: If there's a question scouts may want answered, they might ask about the level of competition, or they'll call you undersized. You did a great job answering that bell at the East-West Shrine, but how are you answering their questions overall?
Mo Kamara: The funny thing is I’ve only heard the “undersize” label this past season. That wasn’t a common theme for me. I think anyone who calls me undersized didn’t do their due diligence. If they didn’t do their homework, they would write me off as being short.
Like you said though, I’ve been very productive. They quote on quote say I’m “undersized,” but they can’t deny the numbers. I don’t have any flaws as a pass rusher or as a run defender. You know what I mean?
I had a ton of sacks and a ton of tackles for loss. There’s no one-word label that matters when you’re productive. Those questions have never bothered me.
JM: The numbers speak for themselves. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Mo Kamara going to make at the next level?
Mo Kamara: I’m a hard worker. I plan to keep the same mindset that led to the numbers I posted at Colorado State. I’ve always been willing to put in the work.
I played for a bunch of different head coaches and position coaches. I was productive under all of them. I played hard for all of them. The uncertainty never bothered me. I was productive no matter what. I’m going to continue doing that at the next level.
