Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 0-50@ Texas A&M | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 48-14vs Lindenwood | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#30
Caden Wiest
Junior defensive end on Missouri State's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 265 lb · Reeds Spring, MO · Reeds Spring High
CFB Index 13 · #397 of 420 edge rushersMedium confidenceReturning to Missouri State 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
sacks · 2026
5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Lindenwood
His career numbers, season by seasonCaden Wiest
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Two seasons at Missouri State, two different head coaches: Nick Petrino and Casey Woods. The receipt: 3 tackles against Texas A&M — Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Missouri State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Nick Petrino
Missouri State
2026era →
Casey Woods
Missouri State
Coaching transition mid-career: Nick Petrino → Casey Woods. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Missouri State7-6HC: Nick Petrino · Balanced
2026Missouri State1-1HC: Casey Woods · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium 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 2 games: 2.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Casey Woods
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
13 · #397 of 420 edge rushers
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #43 of 45 Conference USA DLs
How the All-Conference USA 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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Missouri State | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Missouri State | 15 | 5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 20 | 7 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 3 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 48–14
vs Lindenwood
2 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 PD
Dominant 34-point win at home against Lindenwood.
With I. Myers — 24 rush yds (1 car) · 1 TD · S. Locklear — 258 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 6 rush yds (4 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Missouri State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive end · Missouri State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +8 net (19 in / 11 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Missouri State · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #119 · 2026 recruiting class #131
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Trace Scott’s 2025 season.
88%match
Matches Trace on
Class year
Height
TFL rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Trace Scott's freshman season at Delaware (2025).
85%match
Matches Trace on
Class year
Height
TFL rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Caden Wiest
Background
Honors Conference USA Honor Roll: 2025 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award: 2024 MVFC Honor Roll: 2024 MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll: Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026 Missouri State 2025: Played in all 13 games, primarily on the defensive line and special...
The defensive line · Missouri State
- #30Caden Wiest3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Tim Brantley Jr.1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #44Malachi Madison1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #92Joshua Lukusa0.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #22Grayson Cutchlow0 tackles for loss · 2025
13 more on the roster · Missouri State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology