Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 71-3vs Nicholls | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#16
DJ Ackerson Jr.
Freshman linebacker for Kansas State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 207 lb · Oklahoma City, OK · Putnam City
Returning to Kansas State for 2026
The numbers
1
tackle · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, vs Nicholls
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Kansas State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Kansas State in 2026.
DJ Ackerson Jr.
The receipt on tape: 1 tackles against Nicholls, Week 1, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with Kansas State3-star out of Putnam City
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Kansas State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Kansas State2-0HC: Collin Klein · Run-leaning
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 1 game: 1.0 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
Collin Klein
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kansas State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 71–3
vs Nicholls
1 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 68-point win at home against Nicholls.
With A. Johnson — 199 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 23 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD · B. White — 7 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Kansas State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Kansas State
Returning around him
- 2 Kansas State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -6 net (27 in / 33 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Kansas State · Last season: 6-6 (AP #17) · Talent rank #47 · 2026 recruiting class #50
Background
AT PUTNAM CITY HIGH SCHOOL: Played for the Pirates under head coach Willis Anderson... Viewed as the 30th-best linebacker nationally in the Class of 2026 by Rivals, while the organization rated him the sixth-best overall player in the state of Oklahoma... Recorded 73 tackles, 13.0 tackles for los...
The linebacker corps · Kansas State
- #4Mekhi Mason62 tackles · 2025
- #28Rex Van Wyhe29 tackles · 2025
- #20Jacobi Oliphant Jr.24 tackles · 2025
- #35Gabe Powers21 tackles · 2025
- #16DJ Ackerson Jr.1 game · 2026
6 more on the roster · Kansas State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology