Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-0vs Fordham | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#99
Obald Niyonkuru
Junior defensive tackle on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
5′11″ · 290 lb · Altoona, IA · Southeast Polk HS
Returning to North Dakota State for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
2 tackles
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Fordham
His career numbers, season by seasonObald Niyonkuru
The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Fordham, Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
North Dakota State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026North Dakota State3-0HC: Tim Polasek · 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: 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
Tim Polasek
Pass share
37.7%
72 pass / 119 run
Plays / game
63.7
3 games
Team sack rate
6.0%
84 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Dakota State | 2 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
North Dakota State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive tackle · North Dakota State
Returning around him
- 2 North Dakota State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (3 in / 7 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
North Dakota State · Last season: 12-1 · Talent rank #131 · 2026 recruiting class #117
Background
2025 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in six games at defensive tackle for the Bison...Recorded three tackles on the year...Recovered a fumble against St. Thomas. BEFORE NDSU: Spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the football program at Iowa State University...Redshirted in 2023...Did not appear in any...
The defensive line · North Dakota State
- #56Allante Burley1 game · 2026
- #9Kelton McCaslin2 games · 2026
- #94Logan Larson3 games · 2026
- #93Anthony Okes2 games · 2026
- #99Obald Niyonkuru1 game · 2026
17 more on the roster · North Dakota State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology