Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 62-13vs UL Monroe | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 38-13@ Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#13
LaKendrick James
Junior linebacker for Mississippi State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 250 lb · Shelby, MS · Northside HS (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
Returning to Mississippi State for 2026
The numbers
4
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, vs UL Monroe
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Mississippi State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Mississippi State in 2025.
LaKendrick James
He has spent two seasons in the Mississippi State linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against UL Monroe, Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Mississippi State3-star out of Copiah-Lincoln C.C.
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Mississippi State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Jeff Lebby, all run-leaning offenses — 7-8 over that span.
2025Mississippi State5-8HC: Jeff Lebby · Run-leaning
2026Mississippi State2-0HC: Jeff Lebby · Run-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: 2.0 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
Jeff Lebby
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 | Mississippi State | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Mississippi State | 6 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 10 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 38–13
at Minnesota
1 TOT
Dominant 25-point win on the road against Minnesota.
With K. Taylor — 227 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.8 · 86 rush yds (13 car) · A. Evans III — 6 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Mississippi State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Mississippi State
Returning around him
- 2 Mississippi State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -12 net (28 in / 40 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Mississippi State · Last season: 5-8 · Talent rank #20 · 2026 recruiting class #23
Background
Career Notes Played in four career games with zero starts … Following the 2025 season, had six tackles. 2025 (Junior Season) Played in four games with zero starts … Earned a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at Southern Miss (8/30) with a season-high four tackles … Tallied six tackles on the y...
The linebacker corps · Mississippi State
- #10Jalen Smith57 tackles · 2025
- #7Zakari Tillman47 tackles · 2025
- #16Derion Gullette38 tackles · 2025
- #11Tyler Lockhart34 tackles · 2025
- #13LaKendrick James6 tackles · 2025
6 more on the roster · Mississippi State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology