Mohamed Kamara turned one of the most productive seasons by a defensive player in Colorado State history into a lifelong dream.

The Newark, N.J. native heard his name called on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, as he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (No. 158 overall).

Kamara had 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2023, finishing second all-time in program history in those respective categories and earning Mountain West defensive player of the year, as well as FWW All-American honors.

In Miami, he’ll play alongside another Ram legend in Shaq Barrett, who began his career with the Broncos before moving on to the Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl in 2021.

“I’m very excited, but I’m also very, very angry going at the round that I did. … I’m going to give them that burning desire,” Kamara told local Miami reporters. “All 31 other teams, look out.”

Kamara was the only Colorado or Colorado State player selected in the draft, but several have already inked undrafted free agent deals.

Sources told The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson that CU wide receiver Xavier Weaver signed with the Arizona Cardinals, while CSU tight end Dallin Holker signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Weaver was a standout in his one year in Boulder, catching 68 passes for 908 yards and four touchdowns. Holker was one of the top tight ends in the country, finishing as the runner-up for the John Mackey Award after tying the single-season school record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with six.

He was a consensus second team All-American and had 64 catches for 767 yards.

Other free agents deals announced by the programs themselves are: Buffs defensive linemen Derrick McLendon II (Carolina Panthers) and Leonard Payne Jr. (Miami Dolphins); and Rams cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (Washington Commanders).

Several Colorado natives hear their names called

The Valor Christian to the NFL pipeline is alive and well. So is the McCaffrey pipeline.

Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, the youngest of former Broncos standout Ed McCaffrey’s four sons, was selected with the final pick of the third round (No. 100 overall) by the Washington Commanders.

Luke began his career as a quarterback at Nebraska, playing two seasons for the Cornhuskers before transferring to join the Owls, where he played three seasons (one at quarterback before moving to wide receiver full-time).

This past season, he caught 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’ll join his older brother, 49ers star RB Christian, at the next level.

One of Luke’s former high school teammates at Valor, Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, also heard his name called on Friday, taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round (No. 62 overall). Rosengarten didn’t allow a sack in his college career and helped the Huskies reach the national championship game this past season.