2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Ibrahim Kamara, Edge, Georgetown
- Name: Ibrahim Kamara
- School: Georgetown University
- Position: Edge
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 250
- Instagram: ibk.ng11
- Twitter: ekamara68
What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
This season I wanted to be a better all-around player. I wanted to increase my football IQ, my instincts and earn 1st team Patriot League.
What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?
I grew up playing madden a lot and playing backyard football, through this I fell in love with the game very young. I’m not only a player but a fan too, I know all the stats and immerse myself in football history. I fell in love with the game because it’s the best metaphor for life- how do you respond in life when adversity strikes.
What makes your journey to this point different/unique from others?
My journey has been a lot different than others with me being born in Sierra Leone during a war and surviving those circumstances with my family then making it to America, growing up in a bad neighborhood, and going to a school like Georgetown. I’ve been through a lot of adversity in my life and it’s only made me mentally stronger so I’m happy about that. My journey has truly made me who I am today, and I love that.
Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?
I’ll say my mom and my two sisters. My mom is probably the toughest woman I know, she’s been through a lot and has done a lot for me, working extra shifts to send me to a private school for my senior year and just being there for me at all times. My sisters are both people I really look up to as well, they’re the type of people who when they say they’re going to do something they do it and I like their perseverance and determination. They are both extremely smart and I look up to them for that.
What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
I believe they’ll say I’m resilient, I keep coming back no matter what I battle through. Also, they’ll say I’m very coachable as I want to improve every day and I like learning from others as well.
When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?
When I’m studying film I look for moves that beat the OL, I look for repeated tendencies, little cadences for when the ball would be snapped from either the OL or QB. I also look at their hand placement high or low, if they duck their head or flash a hand at me, as well as the RB to give me any signs.
What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
I’ll say my instincts, I watch a lot of film, so I sometimes call the plays out almost like a QB of the defense and am able to get a good feel for where the protection is sliding.
What has your offseason plan been to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
My off-season plan has been training my body to not only become stronger and faster but handle little injuries as well. Working on little joints and muscles and strengthening them. Getting faster and more flexible to better bend around the corner and flip my hips to be an even more effective and efficient pass rusher.
What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
The strengths and abilities I’ll bring to a team will be my long arms, my get-off, my instincts, my skills as a pass rusher, and my high motor to get to the ball. I understand the game better now than I ever had before and I’m eager so I have been training myself in every aspect of the game. In terms of off-the-field, I would say my ability to break down tape which will allow me to come to every practice and game with ideas and insight to help improve the team and ultimately better adjust in a game to help the team win.
How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?
I handle challenges as an opportunity to grow and get better. In life when I’m facing adversity and challenges, I look at the problem to see what it is trying to teach me. How can I grow from this and how can this make me stronger, mentally, physically, or emotionally? On the field, I like adversity because I know it makes me stronger and better because I can learn from it. I can learn from a situation and come back and be better going forward.
What is your favorite stunt or blitz and why?
My favorite stunts are TEX, EAT OR READ TOM. As the first guy your job is to penetrate and get upfield on a TEX and the second guy comes around and cleans it up. EAT if I’m the end I go first and the DT goes around. EAT, TEX and a READ TOM are great stunts to mess with the OL that’s why I like it. Pass rush is more chess than anything on the field. I like READ TOM because you get to hit and punish the guard or center and makes it more fun for us on defense.
What should we know about Ibrahim Kamara the person?
Ibrahim Kamara is a kid that has faced a lot of adversity in his life and kept going when he could’ve quit, and he just wants to play football. He’s determined and very resilient, he’ll work for everything he’s got, and he doesn’t like taking the easy path to something. He also likes a challenge and likes to laugh at pain. He’ll give you everything he’s got because he’s not only playing for himself but also his family and the people that believe in him and have helped him throughout the way.
What weakness(es) do you have as a player and how are you addressing/improving on it?
My weakness last year was my get-off. I had good hands and could flip my hips but my get-off wasn’t the best, so I got more pressure than sacks. I’ve worked on it this off-season and worked on my first step, being more explosive of the ball and training on this several times a week. My hands are really good and my get-off will be too, when it’s time I’ll show I can be a great pass rusher in any league.
What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?
My final pitch will be to take a chance on me at any pro camp, I just want to get a chance and give it my all, I want this more than anything and this has been my dream. I haven’t had the best opportunities when it comes to football and haven’t had the best help outside of my family, but I’ve turned it around and all I want is a shot. As I’ve said in the past, I’m willing to sleep in my car if it gets me a chance at a pro camp to show my abilities. I want to become the best athlete and reach the potential I know I always could since I was a kid playing football in the backyard. I know when the time comes, I’ll be ready and confident in myself that anything I put my mind towards I’ll accomplish it through my training and preparation.
