Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 24-45vs UCLA | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 21-18@ Syracuse | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#33
JD McKinley
Freshman linebacker for California. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 250 lb · Corona, CA · Centennial HS
Returning to California for 2026
The numbers
7
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, at Syracuse
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for California. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to California in 2026.
JD McKinley
One game to point at: 5 tackles against Syracuse — Week 2, 2026.
7 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with California3-star out of Corona Centennial
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
California
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026California1-1HC: Tosh Lupoi · Pass-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 2 games: 3.5 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
Tosh Lupoi
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 | California | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 21–18
at Syracuse
5 TOT · 2 SOLO
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 on the road.
With A. Davies — 34 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 52 LONG · J. Sagapolutele — 182 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 54.4 · -5 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
California
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · California
Returning around him
- 1 California player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (32 in / 36 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
California · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #33 · 2026 recruiting class #56
Background
Prep (Centennial HS) Played at Centennial High School -- Class of 2026. A versatile defensive player who primarily played a linebacker/edge rusher position in his prep years. Totaled 89 tackles, including 11.0 sacks, and one interception in addition to 11 QB hurries as a senior at Centennial HS,...
The linebacker corps · California
- #21Aaron Hampton41 tackles · 2025
- #10Jayden Wayne26 tackles · 2025
- #15Joshua Pierce14 tackles · 2025
- #4Justin Beadles12 tackles · 2025
- #33JD McKinley2 games · 2026
11 more on the roster · California team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology