The Biggest X-Factor in the CFP National Championship
Biggest x-factor that will decide the CFP National Championship
Indiana is playing Miami football in the CFP national championship game. Follow live updates here.
Mikail Kamara could have cashed in as an NFL draft prospect following his 2024 college football season.
The once-underrecruited, unranked defensive lineman broke out as a redshirt junior in 2024 for the Hoosiers with a 10-sack season. He proved he was an FBS-worthy player with Indiana after beginning his career with then-FCS program James Madison, following Curt Cignetti to Indiana.
Instead of entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Kamara opted to return to the Hoosiers for the 2025 season, and has been a key cog for the defense during their run to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
The No. 1-ranked Hoosiers (15-0) will take on No. 10 Miami (13-2) in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19, from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. A strong performance from Kamara against the Hurricanes and quarterback Carson Beck could help Indiana win its first-ever national championship.
Here’s everything to know about Indiana’s defensive player ahead of the CFP national championship game against the Hurricanes:
Who is Mikail Kamara?
The 6-foot-1, 262-pound defensive lineman has been an integral part of the Indiana football defense over the last two seasons after following Cignetti to Indiana from James Madison.
Kamara has recorded 30 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass deflection this season for the Hoosiers. Last year, he had 47 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection.
As a redshirt sophomore with James Madison in 2023, he had 53 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two pass deflections and four forced fumbles. Kamara started his career with the Dukes in 2020, when the program was still a member of the FCS. He missed the 2021 season with an injury.
In the CFP quarterfinal against Alabama, Kamara recorded a sack of Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. He had three total tackles against Oregon in the semifinal.
As a senior at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia, he registered 34 tackles for loss and 15 sacks, leading the Bulldogs to a Virginia High School League Class 5A runner-up finish.
Mikail Kamara age
Cooper was born on Dec. 14, 2003, making him 22 years old.
Mikail Kamara recruiting ranking
Kamara, part of the 2020 recruiting class, was an unranked prospect, per 247Sports’ Composite ratings. He signed with James Madison out of Stone Bridge High School.
Here’s a look at Kamara’s recruiting ranking out of high school:
- State ranking: Unranked
- Stars: 0
- National rating: Unranked
- Position ranking: Unranked
Following his 2023 redshirt junior year with JMU, Kamara opted to follow Cignetti to the Big Ten, joining Indiana in the transfer portal. He was the 997th-ranked player in the portal and the 99th-ranked defensive lineman.
Mikail Kamara stats
Here’s a look at Kamara’s stats in his four collegiate seasons with the Hoosiers and Dukes:
- 2021 (JMU): Redshirted due to injury
- 2022 (JMU): 14 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble
- 2023 (JMU): 53 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two pass deflections and four forced fumbles
- 2024 (Indiana): 47 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection
- 2025 (Indiana): 30 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass deflection
