James Madison’s defensive line was one of the most ferocious defensive position groups across the entire Group of Five in 2023. While Jalen Green drew headlines for his absurd sack totals – he recorded 15.5 in nine games – Jamree Kromah produced a special season, too.
Kromah finished with 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, both second-best on the team behind Green. Kromah, who started his career at Rutgers before transferring to JMU, was listed by JMU at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds. Given his production and size, Kromah could hear his name called in the later stages of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Also working in Kromah’s favor is that he was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, having a chance to practice in front of scouts and compete in the game. Kromah finished with one tackle for loss in the game against other NFL prospects.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Position Versatility
NFL scouts want to identify players who can contribute to teams. When scouts and general managers look at early-round prospects, there’s often an assumption that the player can quickly become a starter in the NFL.
Later-round picks are often used on developmental prospects with upside. Teams aren’t always looking for impact starters, but rather players who can compete for a roster spot and eventually develop into a contributor.
Kromah possesses plenty of traits that could convince NFL teams that he’s worthy of a late-round pick. His position versatility is among his top traits.
At JMU, Kromah played both defensive end and tackle. He was capable of lining up along the interior of the defensive line with nose tackle James Carpenter, and Kromah also lined up on the edge opposite of Jalen Green.
He produced in both positions, and the Dukes’ pass rush was often dangerous on third-and-longs when Kromah lined up inside and a pair of speedier rushers lined up on the edge. Kromah possesses quality burst and power, which makes him capable of playing different positions along the defensive front. He’s not going to confuse anyone for Myles Garrett, but Kromah’s above-average athleticism was evident when competing against Group of Five teams.
He could theoretically put on size and become an interior lineman, or he could maintain his current weight and focus on being a defensive end.
Production Matters
Kromah’s position versatility and size make him an intriguing NFL prospect, and it’s his 2023 production that makes him worthy of an NFL Draft pick.
Not only did Kromah finish with more than 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, but some of his best performances came in JMU’s biggest games. Kromah tallied three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in a September win over Virginia, the lone Power Five opponent on JMU’s schedule. He dominated Virginia’s offensive line, making members of the position group look silly in the process.
A week later, against eventual Sun Belt champion Troy, Kromah finished the game with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was highly disruptive in the defensive battle, helping the Dukes win by one possession.
Kromah was consistent throughout 2023, and he thrived in some of the Dukes’ biggest games. He’s a physical force along a defensive line, and he produced at an elite level in the Sun Belt.
While his name isn’t known by most casual NFL fans, Kromah has the potential to be a quality late-round roster addition for a team in need of defensive line help.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
