Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 33-20vs Buffalo | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#17
Kani Smith
Sophomore linebacker for Florida International. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 210 lb · Pahokee, FL
Returning to Florida International for 2026
The numbers
1
tackle · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, vs Buffalo
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Florida International. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Florida International in 2025.
Kani Smith
This is his second year in the same linebacker corps at Florida International. The receipt on tape: 1 tackles against Buffalo, Week 2, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Florida International3-star out of Pahokee
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Florida International
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Willie Simmons — 8-7 over that span.
2025Florida International7-6HC: Willie Simmons · Balanced
2026Florida International1-1HC: Willie Simmons · Pass-leaning, fast tempo
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: 1.0 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
Willie Simmons
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 | Florida International | 1 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Florida International | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 33–20
vs Buffalo
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Florida International
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Florida International
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (17 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Florida International · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #90 · 2026 recruiting class #102
The linebacker corps · Florida International
- #9Josiah Taylor71 tackles · 2025
- #11Percy Courtney Jr.38 tackles · 2025
- #22Brayshawn Littlejohn32 tackles · 2025
- #17Kani Smith3 tackles · 2025
- #34Cam Davis1 tackle · 2025
4 more on the roster · Florida International team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology