Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Eastern Illinois | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 13-38vs Mississippi State | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#11
Karter Menz
Senior defensive lineman on Minnesota's 2026 roster.
6′5″ · 240 lb · Horace, ND · West Fargo Sheyenne
CFB Index 58 · #162 of 420 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to Minnesota for 2026
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.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 TFL · 5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 TFL, 2 tackles, vs Mississippi State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman on Minnesota's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Minnesota in 2023.
Karter Menz
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Second year in the Minnesota defensive front, same address the whole way. One game to point at: 3 tackles against Eastern Illinois — Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with Minnesota3-star out of West Fargo
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Minnesota
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under P.J. Fleck — 9-6 over that span.
2025Minnesota8-5HC: P.J. Fleck · Balanced, slow tempo
2026Minnesota1-1HC: P.J. Fleck · Pass-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
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: 2.5 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
P.J. Fleck
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
58 · #162 of 420 edge rushers
Three-star recruit. Now #162 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #29 of 69 Big Ten DLs
How the All-Big Ten estimate is computed
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.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 59–7
3 TOT · 2 SOLO
Dominant 52-point win at home against Eastern Illinois.
With J. Tracy — 5 rec · 98 yds · D. Lindsey — 264 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 86.2 · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Minnesota
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Minnesota
Returning around him
- 1 Minnesota player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (19 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Minnesota · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #41 · 2026 recruiting class #28
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Eyabi Anoma’s 2022 season.
Matches Eyabi on
Height
Weight
Sack rate
Differs from Eyabi on
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Dwight Togiola's freshman season at Nevada (2022).
76%match
Matches Dwight on
Sack rate
TFL rate
Weight
Differs from Dwight on
Height (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Karter Menz
Background
PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. HONORS: Academic All-Big Ten (2025, 2024) 2025 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games • made 32 tackles • had 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss • broke up two passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. Game-by-Game: Competed...
The defensive line · Minnesota
- Anthony Smith17.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #3T.J. Bush10.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Karter Menz9 tackles for loss · 2025
- #1Jaxon Howard5.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #70Naquan Crowder3 tackles for loss · 2025
19 more on the roster · Minnesota team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology