Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 14-49@ Nevada | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 20-70@ Georgia | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#98
Nathan Gonzales
Senior defensive end on Western Kentucky's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 248 lb · Bell Gardens, CA · Warren HS
Returning to Western Kentucky for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 TFL · 5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 TFL, 2 tackles, at Georgia
His career numbers, season by seasonNathan Gonzales
The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against Nevada, Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Western Kentucky
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Western Kentucky0-2HC: Tyson Helton · Run-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 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
Tyson Helton
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 | Western Kentucky | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Western Kentucky
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive end · Western Kentucky
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -4 net (19 in / 23 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Western Kentucky · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #87 · 2026 recruiting class #81
Background
Before WKU: Gonzales joins the Hilltoppers as a transfer from Indiana State. He appeared in 20 games over two seasons with the Sycamores, totaling 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, as well as a blocked kick. Of his 30 tackles, 26 came during his final season with the program in 2...
The defensive line · Western Kentucky
- Mackavelli Malotumau7 tackles for loss · 2025
- #15Jayden Gray3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #93Rylen Sua-Filo3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #33Zeiqui Lawton3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #98Nathan Gonzales2 games · 2026
20 more on the roster · Western Kentucky team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology