On Monday, one of Indiana’s returning stars on the defensive side of the ball, Mikail Kamara, was named to the Walter Camp Foundation’s preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. This comes the year after Kamara had a season in which he led the FBS in total pressures (73), amassed 10 sacks, and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors along with second-team All-American honors by The Athletic.
But for Kamara, he’s looking for much more in 2025.
“You gotta aim higher than you can even believe, right?” said Kamara on Tuesday after fall camp practice. “If you aim higher, if you fall, it’s still going to be spectacular.”
So, how high is he aiming heading into the season?
“I set that goal at 20 sacks. Worst case scenario, I fall and still break the sack record.”
Greg Middleton currently owns the Hoosiers’ single-season sack record from his performance in the 2007 season, totaling 16.5.
“I feel like, if you set your goals high, every single time you get on the field or every single time you’re working out, you have that in your mind. Now you understand ‘why do I have to go extra on this rep of bench press?’ ‘Why do I have to go extra on this rep of a sprint?’ Every time you set goals high, when it starts to get hard you realize why you’re doing it.”
In order to accomplish these lofty goals, Kamara has identified his motor as an area of improvement from last year. He’ll also have a new position this season, moving from the strong side edge position to the ‘stud’ role, giving him a little more flexibility to roam and make plays all over the field.
“I think the biggest thing for me is my motor. I felt like it was great last year, but I feel like I left a couple plays out there motor wise. I think it’s just playing harder every single play. I feel like I’ve gotten bigger, faster, stronger throughout the offseason, my mental is really hardened. Especially going to some of those away games playing against bigger and better competition. It’s like in those games I really need to be attacking in those games. I think that’s the thing that’s going to set me apart going through the season.”
If he has the season he is planning, Kamara could certainly see himself as one of the 10 semifinalists for the Walter Camp award, shooting up the NFL draft boards, and best yet, leading the Hoosiers to another all-time season.