Alvin Kamara

A one-year starter at Tennessee, Kamara lined up all over the Vols' offense and showed his versatility as a rusher and receiver with ironically consistent production the past two years (2015: 141 touches, 989 total yards, 10 touchdowns; 2016: 143 touches, 988 total yards, 13 touchdowns). Out of high school, Kamara weighed offers from every program in the SEC, choosing Alabama where he was part of a loaded running back class for the Tide that included Derrick Henry. He suffered a knee injury in fall camp, which required surgery, and was suspended twice during the 2013 season, taking a redshirt year. Kamara asked to be released from his scholarship after the season and enrolled at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas where he was named the Offensive Player of the Year. He was a five-star JUCO recruit and committed to Tennessee where he was the back-up to Jalen Hurd in 2015. Kamara was again the back-up in 2016 as a junior, but took over the starting duties once Hurd left the team, finishing with 1,188 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns over seven starts. A shifty athlete, Kamara is a tough ballcarrier to tackle one-on-one due to his controlled feet and redirection skills to maintain balance through contact. He needs to improve his run patience and discipline between the tackles, but is the most dangerous in space with his ability to create. Kamara isn't a squeaky clean prospect with some of his past character issues and was never the lead singer of the offense yet often banged up over his career -- medical staffs need to sign off on the long-term durability of his knees. With his versatility as a rusher and receiver and ability to navigate and create, Kamara projects as a top-100 talent who can be a dynamic compliment to a NFL backfield.

strengths

Balanced athlete and routinely keeps his feet through contact. Easily changes directions without slowing, using his lateral quickness to cut, go and elude defenders in space. Initial burst to attack run lanes and quickly get to the second level. Instinctive run qualities to feel openings and navigate. Natural acceleration to beat linebackers to the corner, using his speed to out-leverage defenders. Lowers his pads to finish instead of escaping out of bounds. Reliable ballskills with experience running routes and snaring the ball away from his body. Averaged 10.9 yards per punt return for the Vols with one touchdown. Frequent visitor to the end zone, averaging one touchdown every 12.3 touches on offense.

weaknesses

Only average inside power and not a short-yardage runner who will create push. Patiently allows plays to develop, but his occasional over-patience will border on hesitant, allowing defenders to reset and square him up. Tunnel vision and sporadically picks his spots. Ball security is a concern with seven fumbles the past two seasons, averaging one fumble every 40.6 offensive touches. Willing and tough in pass protection, but lacks nuance and needs technique work. Has only one game in his career with 20+ offensive touches in a single game and hasn't been relied on to be the feature backfield weapon. Immature past and was arrested shortly after leaving Alabama for driving on a suspended license and failure to appear (Feb. 2014). Was also suspended twice by Nick Saban during the 2013 season for behavioral reasons. Past knee issues, including a left knee sprain that forced him to miss three games in 2016.

Lettered at Norcross High School in Georgia for coach Keith Maloof No. 1 all-purpose back in the 247Composite, the No. 5 player in Georgia and the No. 42 player nationally in 2012 Nation's No. 2 all-purpose by Rivals.com and the No. 45 player in the Rivals100 Ranked as the No. 6 player in Georgia by Rivals Selected to participate in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game No. 32 in the ESPN150 and the No. 4 running back and No. 4 player in Georgia 247Sports listed him as the No. 3 all-purpose back and the No. 7 player in Georgia, while ranking him 66th in the Top247 Invited to "The Opening" in the summer of 2012 on the Nike campus in Oregon Rushed for 2,264 yards and 26 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry as a senior in 2012 Added 22 receptions for 286 yards and five scores Second-team All-American as a running back by MaxPreps Earned Georgia Mr. Football honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class AAAAAA Player of the Year and garnered first-team All-State honors from the Georgia Sports Writers Association Added 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior in 2011

Full name: Alvin Mentian Kamara Born: July 25, 1995 in Atlanta, Ga. Son of Adama Kamara Recipient of Sendele Family Endowment Scholarship

2016

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
5.8	9.0	596.0	103.0	39.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
40.0	9.8	4.0	53.0	392.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	2.0	5.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
16.0	16.0	1.0	0.0	16.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
9.7	19.0	0.0	32.0	184.0

2015

passing
ATT	YPA	PCT	YDS	INT	TD	COMPLETIONS
1.0	24.0	1.0	24.0	0.0	0.0	1.0

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
6.5	7.0	698.0	107.0	63.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
34.0	8.6	3.0	35.0	291.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
11.1	9.0	1.0	50.0	100.0