Kemal Ishmael
 Ishmael with the Falcons in 2013 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 36 Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker/Safety | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth: | May 6, 1991 | ||||||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Miami, Florida | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | North Miami Beach (FL) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Central Florida | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 7 / Pick: 243 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2016 | |||||||||||||||
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Kemal Ishmael (born May 6, 1991) is an American football linebacker/safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons in the seventh round (243th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.[1] He played college football at Central Florida.
College career
Ishmael played college football at University of Central Florida.
Professional career
Atlanta Falcons
In the 2013 NFL Draft, Ishmael was selected in the seventh round with the 243rd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
2013 season
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, 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 totalling 52 tackles with one interception against Blake Bortles and three passes defensed.
2016 season
Ishmael played in 13 games with four starts 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.[2]
In the 2016 season, the Falcons would reach Super Bowl LI. Ishmael would not get to participate due to his injury. Against the New England Patriots, the Falcons would fall in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[3]
2017 season
On March 14, 2017, Ishmael signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension with the Falcons.[4]
References
- ↑ "Falcons select Central Florida’s Kemal Ishmael, becomes 3rd defensive back drafted by Atlanta". washingtonpost.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
- ↑ Jackson, Curtis (December 16, 2016). "Ishmael Placed on IR, McKissic Promoted". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- ↑ "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ↑ Jackson, Curtis (March 14, 2017). "Falcons Agree to Terms with Kemal Ishmael". AtlantaFalcons.com.