Alvin Kamara thinks he can be a 1st-round pick, but he’s OK with it if he’s not

Alvin Kamara doesn’t concern himself with mock drafts. Most have him near the top of this year’s class of running backs, but behind players like Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, and Dalvin Cook.

“To be honest, I don’t really care. I know my abilities and I know what I’m capable of, so if they think I’m a second-tier back, then cool for them,” Kamara told SB Nation.

The Tennessee running back, with just 210 carries in his career, could buck a trend if he goes in the first round.

In 1991, the New England Patriots selected Leonard Russell with the No. 14-overall pick, despite the fact that the Arizona State product had just 174 carries in his collegiate career. Originally an enrollee with the Sun Devils in 1987, Russell transferred to Mt. San Antonio College before joining ASU in 1990 for just one season, tallying 810 yards and nine touchdowns.

Since then, no running back with fewer than 300 carries in college has gone in the first round.

Kamara looks the part at 5’10, 214 pounds, but after beginning his career at Alabama, transferring to Hutchinson Community College, and eventually splitting carries with Jalen Hurd and Joshua Dobbs, he finished with just 210 carries in two seasons at Tennessee.

“I wasn’t in a backfield where I had to get 20, 25, 30 carries a game,” Kamara said. “A lot of [the other running backs in the draft], that’s what they were doing. And it’s cool, that’s what their teams needed them to do, but for me it wasn’t like that.”

The most rushing attempts he had in a game during his time with the Volunteers was 18 against Texas A&M last season while Hurd was sidelined with an injury. Kamara finished with 127 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think, really when teams ask about it, I just say ‘I didn’t have to, but I think I could, and when I had a chance to succeed and get more carries, I produced.’”

Kamara averaged 6.16 yards per carry over those 210 attempts with 16 touchdowns.

But he also found touches elsewhere in the Tennessee offense. He added 683 receiving yards on 74 receptions and returned 26 punts — something he expects to continue doing in the NFL.

Knowing how to work hard endeared Kamara to his Tennessee teammates. Despite spending just two seasons in Knoxville and his lesser role in the offense, he was still named a team captain for the 2016 season.

The other captains for Tennessee were quarterback Joshua Dobbs, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and cornerback Cameron Sutton. All three were seniors, who spent their entire collegiate career with the Volunteers.

“I came in, shut my mouth, and just did my job,” Kamara said. “That’s the way I know how to earn respect. Do your job and do it well, and show that you’re committed and that you have enough drive, focus and mental strength to be able to work with others, and accomplish a team goal. You can earn the trust of your teammates and coaches like that.”

Now, he’s looking to bring those qualities to the NFL, where there’s a good chance he’ll begin his career in a backup role and have to work his way into an offense.

If he goes in the first round, Kamara may be asked to step in as a leader and starter right away. And he’s ready to provide whatever is asked.

“I just know how to work, so I’m working and I’m waiting to see how it shakes out, and wherever I go, they’re going to get what they paid for.”

Any team that selects a running back in the first round will want that player to make a significant impact on offense, although few expect him to go that early.

Just five of 74 media mock drafts surveyed by SB Nation have Kamara projected to go in the first 32 picks. Kamara — with just 8.75 carries per game in college — is expected by most to get drafted in the second round.

“I’m just working and waiting to see how it unfolds, because you never know,” Kamara said. “I’ve watched the draft for years now and there’s always some kind of shake-up and there’s always something different. You always end up looking at the TV like ‘Wow, that happened.’

“So it is what it is. We’re going to see what happens.”

One of those surprises could be Kamara landing in the first round, despite his minimal touches in college. But either way, his focus is on working to prepare for an NFL career that is a couple weeks away from getting started.