#1

A'tiq Muhammad

DB · Kent State · R-Jr. · #1

Returning to Kent State for 2026
R-Jr. · Rockford, Ill. → Guilford HS
via kentstatesports.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

A'tiq Muhammad

DB · Kent State · Jr · #1

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
2 teams
2023–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025

2 coaches
2023
Kenni Burns
Kent State
2025
Mark Carney
Kent State
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Kenni Burns → Mark Carney. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2023UTEP3-9HC: Dana Dimel · Run-leaning
2025Kent State5-7HC: Mark Carney · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Kent State28170.50.01----
2023UTEP210.00.0------
Career30180.50.01----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025

W 21–17

vs Merrimack

4 SOLO  ·  5 TOT

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 4 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Kent State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Kent State

Returning around him

  • 11% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -4 net (11 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Kent State · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #128 · 2026 recruiting class #120

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Major Burns’s 2021 season.

Major Burns

88%match

LSU · 2021

#2

Josh Foster

TCU · 2022

88%
#3

Zakee Wheatley

Penn State · 2022

NFL Rd 5
86%
#4

Dylan King

Southern Miss · 2025

86%
#5

Cameron Smith

Eastern Michigan · 2022

85%

Matches Major on

PD rate
Tackle volume
Weight

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jelani McDonald's sophomore season at Texas (2024).

Texas · 2024

#2

Deonte Stanley

Middle Tennessee · 2022

85%
#3

Tyson Player

UNLV · 2021

84%
#4

Josiah Cox

New Mexico State · 2024

84%
#5

Corey Gordon

Baylor · 2024

82%

Matches Jelani on

Class year
PD rate
Weight

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #13551

Final rank
#13551
Avg #13922.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #13551 this season.

Background

2025 (R-Junior) Played in 9 games for Kent State Recorded 28 total tackles (17 unassisted, 11 assisted) Had half a tackle for loss for 2 yards Registered 1 quarterback hurry vs Massachusetts Broke up 1 pass Season-high 7 tackles came vs Merrimack, posted 6 tackles vs Buffalo and 5 at Florida State

via kentstatesports.com ↗