Senior linebacker for UNLV. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 240 lb · Papaikou, HI
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
How he plays
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.
Tackles: 85th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, at Hawai'i
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for UNLV. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Kamuela Ka'aihue
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Three head coaches in four seasons, at two different programs. The receipt: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Hawai'i — Week 1, 2026.
17 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Barry Odom → Dan Mullen. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: tackles (85th percentile). Strength: solo tackles (80th percentile).
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 · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dan Mullen
Pass share
41.6%
87 pass / 122 run
Plays / game
69.7
3 games
Team sack rate
9.3%
108 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Mountain West
Based on 2025: #41 of 45 Mountain West LBs
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 21–6
at Hawai'i
9 TOT · 5 SOLO · 0 TFL
With M. Choules — 45 AVG · 2 IN 20 · 64 LONG · J. Arnold — 116 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 81.5 · 89 rush yds (16 car) · 2 TD
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 21-27vs Memphis | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 1 | W 21-6@ Hawai'i | 9 | 5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 6-44@ North Texas | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
UNLV
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · UNLV
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
UNLV · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #56 · 2026 recruiting class #63
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Garrett Hudson’s 2017 season.
Matches Garrett on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Alston Orji's senior season at Vanderbilt (2021).
Matches Alston on
Player DNA
8 more on the roster · UNLV team page