The reigning NFL Offensive rookie of the year Alvin Kamara has enjoyed a new level of celebrity now that he is a successful running back for the New Orleans Saints. His phenomenal run that included 8 rushing touchdowns and 5 receiving touchdowns. That’s a pretty tough feat for a running back who was slated to be the 3rd in the totem pole behind Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram.
Kamara has always been in the spotlight from his time at Norcross High School in Georgia and initial commitment to the University of Alabama. His first year at Alabama ended pretty quickly, as he had some run ins with the coaching staff and legal incidents which led to his suspsension, which later led to his decision to transfer.
According to Bleacher Report:
Although he had other Division I offers, he went to a junior college for a season to spend time alone and address his immaturity and the pride built up from playing football.
Kamara has been described as someone who does things his way and keeps his circle rather small and is strictly focused on becoming a better football player. Along with his close group of friends from the Atlanta area he also reportedly trusts his 10 year senior sister Garmai Momolo. Via Bleacher Report, she mentions that Kamara:
…. like a car engine in freezing temperatures, it takes time for Kamara to warm up to strangers.
This is the complete opposite of most elite football players who make it their business to be the life of the party and increase their social media presence in hopes of endorsements and clout.
After his year at community college, Kamara was again a backup once he joined the Tennessee Volunteers and was hoping that he could crack the starting lineup. Bleacher Report mentions:
The lack of touches forced Kamara to stay another season, hoping for a bigger role to build his draft stock. His usage didn’t change the following year, but he declared after his junior season anyway.
As a result of his lack of opportunities and possibly his different look and demeanor, Kamara fell to the Saints in the 3rd round of the draft, who allowed him to be himself. Kamara also mentions that,
“I think that’s what helped my success,”
“It’s easy to work in that environment. Everybody wants everybody to do good, and everybody’s supportive of everybody’s goals.”
Kamara has shown how hard it is for him to open up, when according to Bleacher Report at the conclusion of a Saints and Tampa Bay Bucs game his father was unexpectedly awaiting him outside the locker room and Kamara walked right past him and elected to sign autographs.
“Didn’t even look at his ass,” Kamara says.
Although Kamara has been labeled as hard to read, he made it quite clear how he felt during the end of the Saints playoff run known as Minnesota Miracle. As per Bleacher Report:
“That’s how I felt about that game. I felt like we did everything. We came all the way back, and then s— just happened like that. That’s like some one-in-a-million-type s—.
“I couldn’t even be mad. I was mad, of course, but it was like how does that even f—ing happen? That’s not even real. It’s almost not realistic, like what the f—?”
“We’d beat the shit out of [the Eagles] cause we was rolling,” Kamara says. “If we won [versus Minnesota], I knew nobody was gonna stop us cause we came all the way back.”
“We know what the standard is,” Kamara says before pausing for a few seconds. “So, yeah, fuck Minnesota.”
Kamara till this day keeps the same circle of friends and older sister around, but they have made it clear to him that some things have changed and he will need to adjust to the his new celebrity. So far Kamara’s methods have been proven to be fruitful. Let’s see how he fares in the 2018 season.
Flip the page for videos of Kamara training and highlights from his rookie season.