Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 47-0vs West Georgia | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 17-31vs Georgia State | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#31
Kai Russell
Senior linebacker for Kennesaw State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 256 lb · Charlotte, NC
Returning to Kennesaw State for 2026
The numbers
6
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, vs West Georgia
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Kennesaw State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearKai Russell
One game to point at: 4 tackles, 1 TFL against West Georgia — Week 1, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Kennesaw State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Kennesaw State1-1HC: Jerry Mack · 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 2 games: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.5 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
Jerry Mack
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 | Kennesaw State | 6 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 6 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 47–0
vs West Georgia
4 TOT · 2 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 47-point win at home against West Georgia.
With T. Morgan — 76 rush yds (5 car) · 1 TD · R. Collins — 156 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 58.3 · 51 rush yds (7 car) · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Kennesaw State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Kennesaw State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +10 net (29 in / 19 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Kennesaw State · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #133 · 2026 recruiting class #120
The linebacker corps · Kennesaw State
- #44Baron Hopson139 tackles · 2025
- #11Tywon Christopher81 tackles · 2025
- #18Josh Anglin38 tackles · 2025
- #1Donovan Westmoreland35 tackles · 2025
- #31Kai Russell2 games · 2026
11 more on the roster · Kennesaw State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology