Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-0vs Fordham | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 38-32@ Air Force | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#54
Alijah Wayne
Sophomore defensive tackle on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 290 lb · Omaha, NE · Omaha Central HS
Returning to North Dakota State for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
3 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, at Air Force
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 defensive tackle on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to North Dakota State in 2025.
Alijah Wayne
One game to point at: 2 tackles against Air Force — Week 2, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with North Dakota State3-star out of Omaha Central
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
North Dakota State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026North Dakota State3-0HC: Tim Polasek · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
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 2 games: 1.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tim Polasek
Pass share
37.7%
72 pass / 119 run
Plays / game
63.7
3 games
Team sack rate
6.0%
84 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Dakota State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 38–32
at Air Force
2 TOT · 1 SOLO
Edged out Air Force on the road in a shootout.
With J. Williams — 18 rush yds (2 car) · N. Hayes — 228 yds · 2 TD · 1 INT · 17 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
North Dakota State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive tackle · North Dakota State
Returning around him
- 2 North Dakota State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (3 in / 7 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
North Dakota State · Last season: 12-1 · Talent rank #131 · 2026 recruiting class #117
Background
2025 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in all 13 contests as a true freshman with the Bison...Recorded 13 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks...Had a solo sack in his first career game at The Citadel...Season-high three tackles in the road win over Tennessee State and the home win...
The defensive line · North Dakota State
- #56Allante Burley1 game · 2026
- #9Kelton McCaslin2 games · 2026
- #94Logan Larson3 games · 2026
- #93Anthony Okes2 games · 2026
- #54Alijah Wayne2 games · 2026
17 more on the roster · North Dakota State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology