After becoming a violent pass rusher at Colorado State, Mohamed Kamara will take his talents to South Beach.
The Miami Dolphins took Kamara in the fifth round (158th overall) of the NFL draft. Kamara will join a Miami draft class that currently includes first-round edge rusher Chop Robinson, offensive tackle Patrick Paul and running back Jaylen Wright.
Kamara left Colorado State after finishing second in career sacks (30.5) and third in career tackles for loss (45.5). As a graduate student in 2023, Kamara was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 56 tackles, 13 sacks (tied for fourth-most in the nation) and a pair of forced fumbles.
He was the third CSU Ram to receive that honor and first linebacker since Shaquil Barrett in 2013. Barrett went on to become a two-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.
Despite being an undersized edge rusher, Kamara has become a favorite among draft experts.
“He knows how to rush. The Colorado game was the first game I watched where he basically took the game over,” draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Outside my top 50, (Alabama’s) Chris Braswell is my first edge rusher, and Kamara is my second.”
Kamara is the second CSU player taken in the draft in the past three years. Former Rams tight end Trey McBride was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round in 2022.
He might not be the only Ram to hear his name called during the draft. Tight end Dallin Holker and cornerback Chigozie Anusiem have a chance to get taken at some point during Day 3.
Here’s a look at where other local prospects landed during the draft:
• Air Force safety Trey Taylor joined the Raiders secondary after being selected in the seventh round (223rd overall). Taylor earned the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award after recording 74 tackles, four passes defended and three interceptions.
• Former Buffs wide receiver Brenden Rice was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round (225th overall). After playing two seasons at Colorado, Rice — the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice — transferred to USC, where he totaled 1,402 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 26 career games.