Mikail Kamara was one of a handful of players to follow Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana back in 2024. It's fair to say the move paid off for all parties involved. Kamara carved out a key role in the Indiana defense and the Hoosiers took the college football world by storm over the last two years which culminated with a historic National Championship last season.
Indiana Football 2026 opponent preview: Michigan Wolverines
Earlier this spring, the Hoosiers set a program record by having eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kamara was not selected, but he quickly found an NFL team. Shortly after the draft concluded, Kamara signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent.
Looking to earn a spot on the roster, Kamara entered training camp looking to make a lasting impression. Unfortunately, his NFL career is off to an unfortuante start.
Mikail Kamara released by 49ers following training camp injury
On Saturday, Kamara went down with an apparent knee injury. The specifics of the injury have not been announced, but it was bad enough that he had to be carted off the practice field.
Things went from bad to worse for Kamara on Sunday when he was waived by the 49ers with an injury designation.
It was a devastating blow for Kamara, who was looking to carve out a role with the San Francisco defense and special teams unit. Now, he will look to get back to full health while searching for his next NFL opportunity.
Indiana fans are rooting for Mikail Kamara's NFL journey to take off
Hoosier football fans are undoubtedly rooting for Kamara. He became a staple of Indiana's defense over the last two seasons, and played a key role in Indiana's National Championship-winning season.
Kamara made an immediate impact in Bloomington back in 2024. He started all 13 games for the Hoosiers and racked up 10.0 sacks to go along with 47 tackles and 15.0 tackles for loss. For his efforts, the Ashburn, VA native earned First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-America honors.
Kamara took another big step forward in 2025. Starting in all 16 games, he led the entire Big Ten conference with 59 total QB pressures. He was also a reliable force on IU's special teams unit, and provided one of the most memorable moments of Indiana's national title run
In the CFP National Championship Game against Miami (FL), Kamara's blocked punt in the 3rd quarter was uickly recovered by Isaiah Jones for a touchdown. The play delivered the Hoosiers plenty of momentum, and remains an iconic moment from the most historic season in Indiana football history. The play led to Kamara being named the defensive MVP of the title game.
An official timeline for Kamara's injury recovery is unknown at this time, but it's fair to say that it provides a significant step back in his NFL journey. However, Kamara showed plenty of resiliency during his time in Bloomington, and Hoosier fans are confident in his ability to get back onto the field and make an impact wherever he goes next.
Add us as a preferred source on Google