Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#11
Malachi Curvey
Freshman linebacker for Kansas. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 245 lb · Waukee, IA · Ankeny Centennial HS
Returning to Kansas for 2026
The numbers
1
tackle · 2026
0.5 TFL
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Long Island University
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Kansas. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Kansas in 2025.
- 1 tackle in 2025. Then 1 in 2026.
Malachi Curvey
This is his second year in the same linebacker corps at Kansas. The receipt on tape: 1 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Long Island University, Week 1, 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 Kansas3-star out of Ankeny Centennial
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Kansas
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Lance Leipold — 6-8 over that span.
2025Kansas5-7HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
2026Kansas1-1HC: Lance Leipold · Run-heavy
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, 0.5 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
Lance Leipold
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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
1 TOT · 0 TFL
Dominant 45-point win at home against Long Island University.
With I. Marshall — 246 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 80.7 · 49 rush yds (7 car) · C. Ballard — 90 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.2 · 14 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Kansas
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Kansas
Returning around him
- 2 Kansas players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +5 net (31 in / 26 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Kansas · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #62 · 2026 recruiting class #61
Background
2025: Played in four games as a true freshman, recording one tackle... Utah: Recorded a solo tackle on special teams against the Utes. High School: Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … Coached by Jerry and Ryan Pezzetti at Ankeny Centennial high school … Rated the No. 3 prospec...
The linebacker corps · Kansas
- #4Trey Lathan86 tackles · 2025
- #25Jibreel Al-Amin51 tackles · 2025
- #13Quincy Davis43 tackles · 2025
- #15Landyn Watson21 tackles · 2025
- #11Malachi Curvey1 tackle · 2025
8 more on the roster · Kansas team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology