After his first season ended with a finalist nomination for the award, redshirt senior Mikail Kamara was named one of 42 selections to the Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason watch list, which is bestowed upon college football’s best in character and performance.
A finalist for the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy, Kamara was tabbed semifinalist Bednarik Award and second-team All-America by The Athletic after helping IU to the College Football Playoff. The first Indiana defensive lineman since Greg Middleton (first team) in 2007 to earn All-America status, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection from the conference coaches and media.
Kamara led the FBS in total pressures (73) and graded as the No. 4 edge rusher in the Big Ten and No. 15 in Power 4 (86.7) per Pro Football Focus. Kamara helped the Hoosier defense set program bests for games holding an opponent under 100-yards rushing (8), fewest total yards rushing allowed (1,043), lowest opponent scoring average (15.6) and fewest yards of total offense (3,332) and total offense per game (256.3).
Kamara finished No. 3 in the Big Ten in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (15.5) in 2024 and posted a sack in eight of the 13 games on the season. The 10.0 sacks on the season rank tied for No. 5 in the IU record books and mark the first double-digit sack season since defensive lineman Jammie Kirlew (10.5) in 2008. It is just the sixth double-digit sack season in Indiana history.
The redshirt junior was tabbed national defensive player of the week after IU’s victory at Michigan State with seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. 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. His 2.5 sacks are tied for No. 6 on the single-game ledger at IU and the highest single-game total since Tegray Scales had 3.0 against Penn State in 2017.
The mission of The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation is to recognize and support both national and local charities that serve the youth of America with a focus on education and have a positive IMPACT® on the lives of young men and women.
The Foundation raises money for these charitable purposes from events surrounding and associated with the awarding of The Lott IMPACT® Trophy to College Football’s Defensive Player of the Year who demonstrated the greatest IMPACT® both on and off the field.
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy is unique because it represents the first college football trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance. The Lott IMPACT® Trophy has become a symbol of the positive attributes many college athletes represent. Several LIT alumni have gone on to excel in areas outside of football including medicine, business, broadcasting and charitable work.
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott, a two time All-American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame Inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in Pro Football’s Hall of Fame. He was a leader who made an IMPACT® both on and off the field and continues to exemplify character in his personal life.
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