Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 63-7vs Utah Tech | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 0 tackles |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#18
Ace Kaufusi
Junior linebacker on BYU's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 235 lb · Kahuku, HI
CFB Index 14 · #553 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to BYU for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
tackles · 2026
1 PBU
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: vs Utah Tech
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker on BYU's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to BYU in 2020.
Ace Kaufusi
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at BYU.
0 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
His career
2020
- Signed with BYU3-star out of Kahuku
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
BYU
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Played his entire career under Kalani Sitake.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Kalani Sitake — 30-11 over that span.
2023BYU5-7HC: Kalani Sitake · Balanced
2024BYU11-2HC: Kalani Sitake · Run-leaning
2025BYU12-2HC: Kalani Sitake · Run-leaning
2026BYU2-0HC: Kalani Sitake · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 0.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 1.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kalani Sitake
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Backup
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
14 · #553 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #553 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #70 of 73 Big 12 LBs
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
BYU
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · BYU
Returning around him
- 2 BYU players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (9 in / 14 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
BYU · Last season: 12-2 (AP #12) · Talent rank #59 · 2026 recruiting class #21
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Charles Correa’s 2024 season.
63%match
Matches Charles on
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Charles on
Hurry rate (higher)
Class year (higher)
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Sam Greene's junior season at Kentucky (2025).
70%match
NFL Rd 4
Matches Sam on
Weight
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Differs from Sam on
Height (higher)
Sack rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Ace Kaufusi
The linebacker corps · BYU
- #4Cade Uluave97 tackles · 2025
- #16Isaiah Glasker63 tackles · 2025
- #54Siale Esera44 tackles · 2025
- #21Miles Hall18 tackles · 2025
- #18Ace Kaufusi16 tackles · 2025
11 more on the roster · BYU team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology