Indiana’s historic defensive effort in East Lansing has resulted in national recognition for edge rusher Mikail Kamara.
On Saturday the Hoosier defense posted 15.0 tackles for loss, their most in a game since at least 2005. That total helped hold MSU to an IU program-record minus-36 rushing yards. And Indiana had 31 total quarterbacks pressures on 41 MSU drop backs in the passing game.
The disruptive force leading the way for Indiana was Kamara.
The Virginia product had nine quarterback pressures on 28 pass rush snaps against MSU, leading to 2.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, and four hurries. The single-game sack total is the highest by an Indiana player since Tegray Scales had three in a game in 2017. His 4.5 tackles for loss in the game tie for the No. 3 on the single-game IU charts and are the most since Damian Gregory against Michigan State in 1997.
The 4.5 tackles for loss are tied for No. 2 on the single-game list in the FBS this season.
On Tuesday he was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by both the Maxwell Football Club and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
On the season, Kamara is on the radar for All-Big Ten and perhaps All-American honors.
He has the 13th best Pro Football Focus pass rushing grade in the nation among players with 100 or more pass rush snaps. That outlet credits him with 45 total pressures on the season. Through nine games he has amassed 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
It is the second time an Indiana player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors since 2004, joining former Hoosier linebacker Micah McFadden (Dec. 6, 2020).
And it was the second straight week an IU defender won national honors, as Kamara follows sophomore D’Angelo Ponds’ three national honors from Week 9 after his multi-interception game against Washington.
Terrific play after terrific play. @Mikail_kamara6 is the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week & the Bednarik Award National Defensive Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/arYoUtsKZN
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) November 5, 2024
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