Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-14vs Mercyhurst | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#42
Fa'apaia Fualema
Junior linebacker for New Mexico State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 225 lb · Waipahu, HI
Returning to New Mexico State for 2026
The numbers
2
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Mercyhurst
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for New Mexico State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to New Mexico State in 2026.
Fa'apaia Fualema
The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Mercyhurst, Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with New Mexico State3-star out of Foothill College
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
New Mexico State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026New Mexico State1-2HC: Tony Sanchez · Balanced
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: 2.0 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
Tony Sanchez
Pass share
52.3%
101 pass / 92 run
Plays / game
64.3
3 games
Team sack rate
3.7%
107 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New Mexico State | 2 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–14
vs Mercyhurst
2 TOT
Dominant 37-point win at home against Mercyhurst.
With T. Washington Jr. — 43 rush yds (7 car) · 2 TD · T. Hedden — 253 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 36.8 · -7 rush yds (3 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
New Mexico State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · New Mexico State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +1 net (25 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
New Mexico State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #135 · 2026 recruiting class #134
The linebacker corps · New Mexico State
- #6Tory Gethers87 tackles · 2025
- #14Sone Aupiu68 tackles · 2025
- #34Zaiden Davis24 tackles · 2025
- #36Nathan Wallin1 game · 2026
- #42Fa'apaia Fualema1 game · 2026
4 more on the roster · New Mexico State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology