2026 games, tackles for loss per game. W and L: the team’s results.
4 stories in the last 60 days, from 3 outlets.
Eli Coenen
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Played for two head coaches across two seasons and two programs. On tape: 5 tackles against Notre Dame, Week 3, 2026.
18 tackles · 3.5 sacks
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
18 tackles. 2 passes defended. 0 interceptions. 4.5 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 3 outlets
DT Eli Coenen capitalizes on biggest role, size to date in strong Michigan State debut
247Sports Sep 10 · 1 outlet
247SportsDT Eli Coenen capitalizes on biggest role, size to date in strong Michigan State debutSep 10
Yahoo SportsEli Coenen Leads the Big Ten in SacksSep 13from 4 outlets
DT Eli Coenen capitalizes on biggest role, size to date in strong Michigan State debut
247Sports Sep 10 · 1 outlet
247SportsDT Eli Coenen capitalizes on biggest role, size to date in strong Michigan State debutSep 10Yahoo SportsEli Coenen Leads the Big Ten in SacksSep 13247Sports
On3Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Michigan State5 stories2026 to nowMost about: performance and stat line, profile and feature.
Locked OnTop Michigan State football DT transfer Eli Coenen set for big role in 2026Aug 3On3Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald: Rodney Bullard, Eli Coenen among week one players of the gameSep 7On3Michigan State DT Eli Coenen makes strong early impression, but best may be to come given his high ceilingSep 9247SportsDT Eli Coenen capitalizes on biggest role, size to date in strong Michigan State debutSep 10Yahoo SportsEli Coenen Leads the Big Ten in SacksSep 13
Illinois1 story2025Most about: recruiting.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Eli Coenen vs Toledo.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State | 18 | 9 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2 |
| 2025 | Illinois | 12 | 5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | -- |
| Career | 30 | 14 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2 |
Last game (Wk 8): 2 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 30-20vs Toledo | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-7vs Eastern Michigan | 4 | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | — | 0 | 2 sacks |
| Wk 3 | L 10-27@ No. 3 Notre Dame | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 4 | L 13-31vs Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | L 3-31@ Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 6 | L 37-38vs Illinois | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | L 21-24vs No. 25 Northwestern | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 10-28@ No. 9 UCLA | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 9 | 4.5 | 3.5 | — | 2 |
Oct. 24 · L 10-28 at UCLA, play by play
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 4 tackles for loss, 3 of them sacks, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Michigan State’s defense played that day
UCLA’s 12 drives: 8 stopped (2 takeaways) · 4 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 8.
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 5-yard loss. First quarter, tied 0-0.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 2 for him; the box score credits 1.
1 tackle, including 1 more for loss, 1 pass broken up. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
0 tackles. He hurried the quarterback once.
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 4 of his 5, sacks included.
4 tackles, including 2 sacks, tied for 4th-most sacks in FBS that week. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 9-yard loss on 3rd and 15. Third quarter, up 28-7.
3 tackles, including 1 sack, 1 pass broken up. His sack ended Toledo’s drive (td).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 4 for him; the box score credits 3.
Sacked the quarterback for a 11-yard loss. Third quarter, up 19-14. Ended Toledo’s drive (td).
Ratings of the games shown run from -15 to +25 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
TFL rate
25%4 TFLSack rate
19%4 sacksHurry rate
22%4 hurries18 tackles · 4.5 for loss · 3.5 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| Road3g | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald
Pass share
44.3%
222 pass / 279 run
Plays / game
62.6
8 games
Team sack rate
9.4%
256 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Fewer tackles a game than most FBS defensive linemen who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
2026 is in progress.
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Bret Bielema and Pat Fitzgerald.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Michigan State
