Azur Kamara Explained

Azur Kamara
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:26 September 1998
Birth Place:Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:235
High School:Central (Phoenix, Arizona)
College:Kansas
Undraftedyear:2020
Pastteams:
Cflstatus:American
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:3
Statlabel2:Pass deflections
Statlabel3:Interceptions
Statlabel4:Touchdowns
Statlabel5:Forced fumbles
Statlabel6:Fumble recoveries
Pfr:KamaAz01

Azur Kamara (born September 26, 1998) is an Ivorian professional gridiron football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Kansas. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He has also been a member of the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Edmonton Elks.

Early life

Kamara was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He moved to the United States at the age of 10, after his mother finally gained approval to send for her four children (there was a maximum of three children allowed). His mother had arrived 5 years earlier as a refugee from the First Ivorian Civil War.[1]

He attended Central High School. As a freshman, he began playing American football for the first time.[2] As a senior, he had 106 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, while receiving All-conference honors.[3]

College career

Arizona Western

Kamara enrolled at Arizona Western College. As a freshman, he tallied 45 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

As a sophomore, he posted 30 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss (led the team), 12.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, one pass breakup and one blocked kick, while contributing to the team reaching the NJCAA national title game.

Kansas

He transferred to the University of Kansas after his sophomore season. As a junior, he appeared in all 12 games with 3 starts. He registered 16 tackles (5 for loss), one sack, one quarterback hurry, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.[4]

As a senior, he was named the starter at outside linebacker. He started 12 games, while making 51 tackles (sixth on the team), 6 tackles-for-loss (second on the team), 3.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries.

Kamara played with fellow Jayhawk Hakeem Adeniji in the 2020 Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Kamara was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2020 NFL draft on April 27, 2020.[5] On August 1, 2020, he was waived with an injury designation. After going unclaimed on waivers, he reverted to the Cowboys' injured reserve.[6]

During training camp in 2021, Kamara, along with his mother, who attended a game of his for the first time, were featured on Hard Knocks as he battled for a roster spot. He appeared in nine games, playing mostly on special teams, and recorded three tackles. He was waived on December 20.[7]

Carolina Panthers

On December 21, 2021, Kamara was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.[8] On December 22, he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.[9] He was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 28.

Kamara was waived on May 11, 2022.[10]

Kansas City Chiefs

Kamara was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs on July 27, 2022.[11] He was released during final roster cut downs on August 30, 2022.[12] The following day he was signed to the practice squad.[13] He was waived off the practice squad on September 6, 2022.[14] He was later re-signed on November 1. He was released on November 29.[15]

Edmonton Elks

Kamara signed with the Edmonton Elks on April 11, 2024. He was released on May 11, 2024.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: From refugee to NFL draft, Azur Kamara cherishes a remarkable journey . September 2, 2021.
  2. Web site: Azur Kamara’s Feel-good Path From West Africa to the Dallas Cowboys . September 2, 2021.
  3. Web site: Tom Keegan: Azur Kamara grateful for journey from African soccer player to Kansas football player . September 2, 2021.
  4. Web site: Azur Kamara Reflects on Journey Leading up to the NFL Draft . September 2, 2021.
  5. Web site: UDFA Profile: Kamara Has Length-Speed Combo . September 2, 2021.
  6. Web site: Kai Forbath Released; Rookie LB Waived/Injured . September 2, 2021.
  7. Web site: Dallas Cowboys cut Azur Kamara from 53-man roster, Osirus Mitchell from practice squad. 247sports.com. December 20, 2021.
  8. Web site: Panthers place A.J. Bouye on injured reserve. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. December 21, 2021. December 23, 2021. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102104601/https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-a-j-bouye-on-injured-reserve. dead.
  9. Web site: Panthers' Azur Kamara: Returns from COVID list.
  10. Web site: Panthers release Azur Kamara. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. May 11, 2022.
  11. Web site: Report: Chiefs sign former Cowboys defensive end. Dixon, John. SBNation.com. July 27, 2022.
  12. Web site: Chiefs Announce Roster Moves to Meet NFL-Mandated 53 Players . Chiefs.com. August 30, 2022.
  13. Web site: Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Practice Squad Tracker. SI.com. August 31, 2022.
  14. Web site: Chiefs make a pair of moves on the practice squad. Goldman, Charles. USAToday.com. September 6, 2022. September 7, 2022.
  15. Web site: Goldman . Charles . 2022-11-29 . Chiefs release C Austin Reiter, RB Wayne Gallman from practice squad . 2024-06-24 . Chiefs Wire. USA Today . en-US.
  16. Web site: Azur Kamara . Footballdb.com . 14 August 2024.