Kamara---34 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 2 FRs, 2 FFs. Comparing him to some former IU greats--
TFL--Van Waiters 24.0 in 1985; T. Scales 23.5 in 2018; Wally O. 21 in 1997; n. Davis 20 in 1995; Aaron Casey 20 in 2023; Jamie Kirlew 18.5 in 2008; Joe Huff 19 in 1988; G. Ferrell 18 in 1991; Wally O. 1998; Ed McGuire 17 in 1970 & 1969, G. Middleton 17.0 in 2007. So...he has a ways to go to get in the top 10 there, but a couple of those guys were LBs.
Sacks--Middleton 16 in '07; Waiters 14 in '97; Huff 11 in '88; Kirlew 10.5 in '88; Wally O. 10 in '97; N. Mangini 9.5 in '15. So Kamara is already tied for 6th in sacks. He could end up third by the end of the year.
A few thoughts here---Kamara has been so outstanding that I've thought to myself, "Have we ever had anyone this good"....but when I look at that list I think there's some recency bias, because guys like Wally O., Kirlew, Davis, Waiters et al were pretty damn good also. My memory may be faulty here, but I believe of all those guys listed Middleton may have been the only one who was named 1st team AA???. I do feel, perhaps, that Kamara may play the run better than did some of those guys, esp. Middleton.
So does he have a chance to be a 1st or 2nd team AA? Well, here is where team success may come into play. Right now he's tied for 5th nationally in sacks. He's a little behind behind guys from San, Diego St., VT, Marshall, BC and tied with a guy from S. Carolina, but I hope the team's success and the exposure he's received gets it done.
Ponds--44 tackles, 2 ints, 5 PBUs, 1 BK. 44 tackles seems like a lot for a CB with 3 games left to play. After MSU saw what Ponds did v. Washington, they chose not to challenge him. He still got in the action with a blocked kick. He's a guy who I think is playing at as high a level as any Indiana CB of the past. Guys like Fant, Mullen, Eric Allen, Tim Wilbur come to mind. Tracy Porter may have been the best. This guy seems to be right up there with them. I see Pro Football Focus has him rated #6 among all college cornerbacks in a couple of important categories. To me, Kamara seems like a more likely choice for 1st or 2nd team AA honors, but we'll see what happens. He does look like a lock for 1st team ABT and he or Will Johnson from UM will probably be DB of the Year.
TFL--Van Waiters 24.0 in 1985; T. Scales 23.5 in 2018; Wally O. 21 in 1997; n. Davis 20 in 1995; Aaron Casey 20 in 2023; Jamie Kirlew 18.5 in 2008; Joe Huff 19 in 1988; G. Ferrell 18 in 1991; Wally O. 1998; Ed McGuire 17 in 1970 & 1969, G. Middleton 17.0 in 2007. So...he has a ways to go to get in the top 10 there, but a couple of those guys were LBs.
Sacks--Middleton 16 in '07; Waiters 14 in '97; Huff 11 in '88; Kirlew 10.5 in '88; Wally O. 10 in '97; N. Mangini 9.5 in '15. So Kamara is already tied for 6th in sacks. He could end up third by the end of the year.
A few thoughts here---Kamara has been so outstanding that I've thought to myself, "Have we ever had anyone this good"....but when I look at that list I think there's some recency bias, because guys like Wally O., Kirlew, Davis, Waiters et al were pretty damn good also. My memory may be faulty here, but I believe of all those guys listed Middleton may have been the only one who was named 1st team AA???. I do feel, perhaps, that Kamara may play the run better than did some of those guys, esp. Middleton.
So does he have a chance to be a 1st or 2nd team AA? Well, here is where team success may come into play. Right now he's tied for 5th nationally in sacks. He's a little behind behind guys from San, Diego St., VT, Marshall, BC and tied with a guy from S. Carolina, but I hope the team's success and the exposure he's received gets it done.
Ponds--44 tackles, 2 ints, 5 PBUs, 1 BK. 44 tackles seems like a lot for a CB with 3 games left to play. After MSU saw what Ponds did v. Washington, they chose not to challenge him. He still got in the action with a blocked kick. He's a guy who I think is playing at as high a level as any Indiana CB of the past. Guys like Fant, Mullen, Eric Allen, Tim Wilbur come to mind. Tracy Porter may have been the best. This guy seems to be right up there with them. I see Pro Football Focus has him rated #6 among all college cornerbacks in a couple of important categories. To me, Kamara seems like a more likely choice for 1st or 2nd team AA honors, but we'll see what happens. He does look like a lock for 1st team ABT and he or Will Johnson from UM will probably be DB of the Year.
