Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 4 | 3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 21-38vs Missouri | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 9 | 6 | 2.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#44
David Santiago
Junior defensive end on Kansas's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 255 lb · Raleigh, NC · Millbrook HS
CFB Index 46 · #237 of 420 edge rushersMedium confidenceTransferred Michigan State → Kansas 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
2.5 TFL · 9 tackles · 1 hurries
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1.5 TFL, 4 tackles, vs Long Island University
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 defensive end on Kansas's 2026 roster.
- Transferred from Michigan State to Kansas in 2026.
David Santiago
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack. Across three seasons and three programs, three head coaches: Troy Calhoun, Jonathan Smith and Lance Leipold. One game to point at: 5 tackles, 1 TFL against Missouri — Week 2, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
5 programs, one constant: he played.
202512 games
- Entered the portal
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
3 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Kansas
Played his entire career under Lance Leipold.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Kansas
2025Michigan State
2026Kansas
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Air Force5-7HC: Troy Calhoun · Run-heavy
2025Michigan State4-8HC: Jonathan Smith · Balanced
2026Kansas1-1HC: Lance Leipold · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Elite: tackles for loss (91st percentile). Strength: qb hurries (83rd percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
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: 4.5 TKL/g, 1.2 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
Lance Leipold
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
46 · #237 of 420 edge rushers
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kansas | 9 | 6 | 2.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Michigan State | 24 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Air Force | 37 | 22 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 3 | -- | -- |
| Career | 70 | 38 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 4 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
4 TOT · 3 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 45-point win at home against Long Island University.
With I. Marshall — 246 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 80.7 · 49 rush yds (7 car) · C. Ballard — 90 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.2 · 14 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Versatile End
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Trey Smith’s 2025 season.
86%match
NFL Rd 6
Matches Trey on
Class year
Height
Weight
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to David Afogho's sophomore season at Bowling Green (2025).
86%match
Matches David on
Class year
TFL rate
Sack rate
Player DNA
Players who play like David Santiago
Background
Get to Know David... At what age did you start playing football and how did you get into it? I started playing Pop Warner when I was 5 years old and my dad and older brother played. Who was your favorite player growing up or who is someone you model your game after? My favorite player was Von Mil...
The defensive line · Kansas
- #33Leroy Harris III6.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #94Blake Herold5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #9Dakyus Brinkley5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #91Alex Bray3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #44David Santiago2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
15 more on the roster · Kansas team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology