Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-23vs UAB | 6 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 27-31vs Duke | 4 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
#26
Ismael Kante
Senior linebacker for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 235 lb · Brooklyn Park, MN · Park Center
Returning to Illinois for 2026
The numbers
10
tackles · 2026
0.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 tackles, 1 INT, vs UAB
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Illinois in 2025.
Ismael Kante
He has spent two seasons in the Illinois linebacker corps. The receipt: 6 tackles, 1 INT against UAB — Week 1, 2026.
10 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20255 games
- Signed with Illinois3-star out of Iowa Central C.C.
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Illinois
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Bret Bielema — 10-5 over that span.
2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning
2026Illinois1-1HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: solo tackles (7th 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: 5.0 TKL/g, 0.2 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
Bret Bielema
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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 42–23
vs UAB
6 TOT · 2 SOLO · 1 TD
With K. Houser — 182 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 98.9 · 29 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD · C. Valentine — 88 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Illinois
Returning around him
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -7 net (20 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Illinois · Last season: 9-4 (AP #23) · Talent rank #51 · 2026 recruiting class #24
Background
University of Illinois Graduate Pronunciation: ish-MAYL kan-TAY 2025 - Illinois Played in all 13 games Contributed primarily on special team but played defensive snaps in 10 regular-season contests Eight tackles (three solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup on the season Two tackles in...
The linebacker corps · Illinois
- #45Robert Edmonson47 tackles · 2025
- #24William Holmes45 tackles · 2025
- #10James Kreutz30 tackles · 2025
- #4Daniel Brown11 tackles · 2025
- #26Ismael Kante8 tackles · 2025
10 more on the roster · Illinois team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology