(670 The Score) Before becoming a standout pass rusher at Notre Dame and a prospect in this NFL Draft, Khalid Kareem was a third-grader with big dreams.
During class back then, Kareem was tasked with writing a book about a goal for his future. So he wrote about his dream of winning Super Bowl 60 as a defensive end.
"That's still in my sights," Kareem said at the NFL Combine in February.
Kareem is heading to the NFL after a senior season at Notre Dame in which he posted 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss in 13 starts. He suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during a game against Duke last November but played through it for the remainder of the season.
Kareem didn't realize the significance of his shoulder injury until he underwent an MRI after the regular season ended. Despite knowing about the injury, he still played in Notre Dame's bowl game in late December.
"I couldn't really look myself in the mirror knowing I had something left in the tank and didn't play," Kareem said.
As an NFL prospect, Kareem checks many of the right boxes for scouts, but there are questions regarding his fit within schemes. He checked in at the NFL Combine standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 268 pounds, the kind of size for a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker.
Kareem does have long arms and big hands that can help make him an imposing pass rusher.
"I can be physical at the point of contact," Kareem said. "A lot of guys don't like to do it.
"My coaches challenged me, 'You're pretty good, but can you be great?'"
Kareem projects to be drafted in the third or fourth round. He would offer a team like the Bears a pass rusher who has made a difference at the highest level of college football but is still in need of development.
Wherever Kareem lands in the draft, he wants a team to know this much.
"That I would do anything to help us to win," he said. "I've always wanted to win the Super Bowl."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
