[Elvis]

KAMREN KINCHENS | Miami 5112 | 202 lbs. | 3JR Miami, Fla. (Northwestern) 9/29/2002 (age 21.57) #5

BACKGROUND: Kamren “Kam” Kinchens, the oldest of six children (four boys, two girl), grew up in the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City. His father (Marvin Chatham) played running back at Miami Jackson High School and later walked on at South Florida. Kinchens was introduced to football by his uncles at age 4, then started playing flag football and Pop Warner at age 7. He also played baseball and basketball throughout childhood. He later starred in the Miami Optimist youth league and on the Falcons for the Northwest Boys & Girls Club in middle school, playing primarily quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Kinchens attended William H. Turner Technical Arts High School, but he was allowed to play football at neighboring Northwestern Senior High Sch ool, where his uncle (Reginald
McKnight) was the offensive coordinator. Northwestern has produced several NFL players, like Amari Cooper, Lavonte David and Kinchens’ high school teammate, Calijah Kancey. Primarily an offensive player growing up, he moved to safety in high school and helped Northwestern win the 2017 state title as a freshman. Kinchens became a starter as a sophomore and finished with 76 tackles, one sack and four interceptions, as Northwestern won another title. His best season came as a junior in 2019, when he posted 74 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a team-best nine interceptions, leading the program to a 13-2 record and its third straight 5A state championship. Kinchens was named an All-American and first team All-County as a junior. His senior season was disrupted by the pandemic, and Northwestern played an abbreviated schedule in the fall of 2020. Kinchens also starred for the Florida Fire 7 -on-7 team throughout high school. A four-star recruit, Kinchens was the No. 21 safety in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 48 recruit in Florida. He received his first offer (Toledo) early in his sophomore season, then several Power 5 programs entered the picture after the season, including Clemson, Georgia, Louisville, Ohio State, Oregon, Utah and his hometown Miami. Kinchens decided on a top five of Auburn, LSU, Miami, Nebraska and Texas A&M, but his many connections led hi m to join the Hurricanes. He was
mentored by former Miami safety (and 2008 first-round pick) Kenny Phillips in high school and developed a close relationship with former Miami cornerback (and 2011 third-round pick) Demarcus Van Dyke, who served as the Hurricanes’ recruiting assistant and cornerbacks coach (2019-21). Kinchens also joined his high school teammates Romello Brinson and Khalil Brantley in Miami’s 2021 class and was the No. 16 recruit in Manny Diaz’s final recruiti ng class as Hurricanes head coach. Growing up, Kinchens was given the nickname “Jojo” by his great-grandmother, and that’s what he went by in his neighborhood. After three seasons, he skipped the bowl game and his senior season to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. He accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl.

YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES
2021: (12/5) 44 1.0 0.0 1 4 0 Started final five games; Enrolled in January 2021
2022: (12/12) 59 1.5 0.0 1 12 6 First Team All-American; First Team All-ACC; Led ACC in INTs; Led team in tackles, passes def.; 99-yard INT TD
2023: (10/10) 59 2.5 1.0 0 10 5 First Team All-ACC; Led ACC in INTs; Led team in passes def.; Missed three games (injury); 29-yd INT TD
Total: (34/27) 162 5.0 1.0 2 26 11
HT WT HAND ARM WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 5112 203 9 3/4 31 1/4 75 4.65 2.72 1.63 35 9’2” - - - (no shuttle, 3-cone, bench press — choice)
PRO DAY 5113 202 9 1/2 31 75 3/8 4.60 2.59 1.53 - - - - 13 (no jumps, shuttle, 3-cone — right ankle)

STRENGTHS: Anticipates well from different alignments and plays to his natural instincts … terrific ball tracking and finishing skills (over the last 25 years, three Miami players compiled double-digit interceptions: Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Kinchens) … alert in zones and not shy about taking chances … patiently drives on digs and inbreaking routes … smooth movement skills to get a head start and make plays outside the numbers … eager tackler from depth … sticks his helmet into the hip of the ball carrier and wraps to finish … well-timed blitzer (see sack of Drake Maye vs. North Carolina in 2023) … averaged 14.2 yards per interception return (11/156/2), with a pair of pick sixes in his career … didn’t commit a penalty in his final 21 games … found his voice over the last two seasons and emerged as a key leader for the Hurricanes’ defense (Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry: “I think he’d be a great coach, if he decided to do that.”) … productive on special-teams coverages as a sophomore (eight tackles on 158 snaps).

WEAKNESSES: Lacks elite speed and burst for the position … backfield action can draw him out of position, and he struggles to recover (see 2023 North Carolina tape) … too many questionable angles (versus run and pass), especially when working laterally … missed tackles are usually a result of him leaving his feet too early, causing him to slide off the ball carrier … had to be carted off the field after an in-game collision (September 2023) and was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami; released the next day but missed two games.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Miami, Kinchens was a field/post safety in defensive coordinator Lance Guidry’s scheme (played more of a nickel role in 2022). A highly productive player, he led the ACC in interceptions as both a sophomore and junior. He also was the only player in college football with double-digit combined interceptions over the last two seasons (and the first Miami player to reach at least 10 career interceptions since Sean Taylor). Although he lacks explosive speed and his risk-taking tendencies are worrisome, Kinchens anticipates well from depth and has the range to play over the top and properly track the football. He can rotate down as the robber and be a factor in the run game, too. Overall, Kinchens doesn’t have top-tier athletic traits, but he has a well-balanced skill set with the playmaking awareness and ball skills to compete for a starting role in the NFL. He projects best as a split-field safety with range in the post who can drive topdown in two-deep shells.

GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 79 overall)

[RAMMAN76]

[PARAM]

The two publications I buy every year, Lindy's had him as the #2 safety, Athlon had him as the top safety. So I would suppose he may have been high on the Rams board.

[Dare]

Another solid pick! Kinchens replaces Yeast in the rotation. Russ has simply struggled. I see Lake and Curl as their base starters with Lake moving to SCB and Kinchens rotating in when they go to nickel.

Since they only have no 4th round pick and only one 5th round pick, I would expect them to take an OT or ILB if they stand pat.

I'm not overly concerned considering how well Snead drafts in the 6th round. Wouldn't surprise me if he packaged those 6th round picks and traded back into the 5th round. The core of their draft was always about those first 4 picks and they hit on all of them.

The Rams are back as legit SB contenders.

[actionjack]

Yes!!! The Rams finally have a real ball hawking safety again. By far best instincts of the safeties in the draft and def better than anyone we have except possibly Curl. Great pick

[Elvis]

Kam Kam...

[Elvis]

[Elvis]

[Elvis]

Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Winning the turnover battle is the No. 1 priority for every defensive coordinator in the NFL, and Kinchens will help you do just that. No safety in this class has better instincts and anticipation as a deep-field player, whether that be as a single safety in the middle of the field or in a split-safety structure. He is consistently a step ahead of the quarterback with his understanding of route concepts and ability to read the passer's eyes and shoulder leans. But Kinchens also shows the efficient transition mechanics and closing burst to get into position to make game-changing plays; he came down with 11 interceptions over 2022-23.

And on top of the ball skills, the 5-foot-11, 203-pound safety can make the difficult open-field tackles in one-on-one situations (54 last season) and has shown disruptive blitz ability (26 pressures). His 4.65-second 40 time at the combine wasn't ideal, but I'm not too concerned based on what I see on tape. Kinchens has the potential to be a star.

[actionjack]

Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Winning the turnover battle is the No. 1 priority for every defensive coordinator in the NFL, and Kinchens will help you do just that. No safety in this class has better instincts and anticipation as a deep-field player, whether that be as a single safety in the middle of the field or in a split-safety structure. He is consistently a step ahead of the quarterback with his understanding of route concepts and ability to read the passer's eyes and shoulder leans. But Kinchens also shows the efficient transition mechanics and closing burst to get into position to make game-changing plays; he came down with 11 interceptions over 2022-23.

And on top of the ball skills, the 5-foot-11, 203-pound safety can make the difficult open-field tackles in one-on-one situations (54 last season) and has shown disruptive blitz ability (26 pressures). His 4.65-second 40 time at the combine wasn't ideal, but I'm not too concerned based on what I see on tape. Kinchens has the potential to be a star.

One area in which the Rams defense kinda stunk overall was creating turnovers. I see both Kam's helping that in a big way. I cannot wait to watch some safeties with a nose for the ball. Kinchens has great instincts, should be fun to watch.