Indiana’s Kamara Named Finalist for Lott IMPACT Trophy

Indiana’s Kamara Named Finalist for Lott IMPACT Trophy

 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Lott IMPACT Trophy has tabbed Indiana football redshirt junior Mikail Kamara as one of four finalists for the award, which is bestowed upon college football’s best in character and performance.

 

The award will be handed out on December 9 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas as part of the National Football Foundation festivities surrounding the 66th NFF Awards Dinner. Kamara joins Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton as a finalist for the award.

 

Kamara leads the Big Ten and is tied for No. 8 nationally in sacks (9.5) and is No. 2 in the B1G and No. 13 nationally in tackles for loss (14.5) in 2024. His 57 total pressures are No. 2 in nationally per Pro Football Focus. He owns multiple tackles in 10 of 11 games with at least 1.0 tackle for loss in eight of 11 games. He posted a sack in seven of the first 11 games of the season.

 

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.

 

IU has limited the opposition to less than 100 yards rushing in seven of 11 games this season, which includes a program-record minus-36 rushing yards at Michigan State. The defense has held six opponents under 300 yards of total offense, which is one shy of the most in program history (7; 1989, 1991).

 

His 9.5 sacks are tied for No. 6 on the IU single-season list with Nick Mangieri (2015) and he aims for the first double-digit sack season since defensive lineman Jammie Kirlew (10.5) in 2008. It would also mark just the sixth double-digit sack season in Indiana history.

 

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.