Kemal Ishmael

Last updated

Kemal Ishmael
Kemal Ishmael 2013.jpg
Ishmael with the Falcons in 2013
No. 36
Position: Linebacker
Safety
Personal information
Born: (1991-05-06) May 6, 1991 (age 33)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: North Miami Beach
(North Miami Beach, Florida)
College: UCF
NFL draft: 2013  / Round: 7 / Pick: 243
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • C-USA Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
  • First-team All–C-USA (2012)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:290
Pass deflections:13
Interceptions:5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:3
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at PFR

Kemal Ishmael (born May 6, 1991) is a former American football linebacker and safety. [1] He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round (243rd overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. [2] He played college football at UCF.

Contents

College career

Ishmael played college football at UCF.

Professional career

2013 season

In the 2013 NFL draft, Ishmael was selected in the seventh round with the 243rd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. [3] In his rookie year, he got very little playing time. Head coach Mike Smith was worried he lacked the size and speed needed to start professionally and Ishmael was set to play behind veteran Thomas DeCoud and fellow rookie Zeke Motta. When both Motta and DeCoud were injured, Ishmael was active but only played three defensive snaps in all of 2013.

2014 season

On September 18, 2014, Ishmael got his first career interception off Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown on Thursday Night Football. From week 9 to 11, Ishmael had an interception in all three games.

2015 season

Ishmael played in all 16 games with five starts in 2015, totalling 52 tackles with one interception against Blake Bortles and three passes defensed.

2016 season

Ishmael played in 13 games with four starts in 2016, totaling 49 tackles playing at safety and linebacker throughout the season before being placed on injured reserve on December 16, 2016 with a shoulder injury. [4] In the 2016 season, the Falcons would reach Super Bowl LI. Ishmael would not get to participate due to his injury. [5]

2017 season

On March 14, 2017, Ishmael signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension with the Falcons. [6]

2018 season

On April 4, 2018, Ishmael re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract. [7]

2019 season

On April 3, 2019, Ishmael re-signed with the Falcons on another one-year contract. [8] On Wednesday July 24, 2019, it was announced that with strong safety J.J. Wilcox out for the season with a torn right ACL, Ishmael would return to his original position as SS and now see 75 percent of his practice time at safety and 25 percent at linebacker. [9] On September 23, 2019, Ishmael took over the starting strong safety role he had earlier in his career after another season ending injury to Pro Bowl safety Keanu Neal after he tore his Achilles.

After becoming a free agent in March 2020, Ishmael had a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers on August 18, 2020. [10]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2013 ATL 401100.00000000000
2014 ATL 16109767300.02437123611180
2015 ATL 1654632140.0118408430000
2016 ATL 1345232200.00000020000
2017 ATL 1612915141.01000010100
2018 ATL 1602111100.00000010100
2019 ATL 1434425190.02000001000
95232901831071.0651211841323180

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2017 ATL 207610.01000000100
207610.01000000100

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References

  1. "Falcons depth chart".
  2. "Falcons select Central Florida's Kemal Ishmael, becomes 3rd defensive back drafted by Atlanta". washingtonpost.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2013.[ dead link ]
  3. "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  4. Jackson, Curtis (December 16, 2016). "Ishmael Placed on IR, McKissic Promoted". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017.
  5. "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  6. Jackson, Curtis (March 14, 2017). "Falcons Agree to Terms with Kemal Ishmael". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017.
  7. McFadden, Will (April 4, 2018). "Falcons agree to terms on a one-year deal with safety Kemal Ishmael". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018.
  8. McFadden, Will (April 3, 2019). "Falcons sign Kemal Ishmael to one-year deal". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  9. Ledbetter, D. Orlando (July 24, 2019). "Ishmael moved back to strong safety". AJC.com.
  10. @AlbertBreer (August 18, 2020). "Today's tryout/visit list" (Tweet). Retrieved August 21, 2020 via Twitter.