Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 55-3vs Maine | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 27-24@ East Carolina | 3 | 3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 3.5 | 3.0 | — | 0 |
#41
Caleb Sandstrom
Senior defensive lineman for App State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 250 lb · Andover, MN
CFB Index 47 · #230 of 420 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to App State for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
3
sacks · 2026
3.5 TFL · 5 tackles · 2 hurries
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 tackles, at East Carolina
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman for App State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Transferred from St. Thomas to App State in 2025.
Caleb Sandstrom
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. St. Thomas to App State — the move that set up everything since. One game to point at: 3 tackles, 2 sacks against East Carolina — Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 3 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- portal record
- game log
His career
202510 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
App State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Dowell Loggains — 7-8 over that span.
2025App State5-8HC: Dowell Loggains · Pass-leaning
2026App State2-0HC: Dowell Loggains · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Elite: sacks (99th percentile). Strength: tackles for loss (98th percentile). 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, 1.8 TFL/g, 1.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dowell Loggains
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
47 · #230 of 420 edge rushers
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Sun Belt
Based on 2025: #26 of 48 Sun Belt DLs
How the All-Sun Belt estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 55–3
vs Maine
2 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 SACKS
Dominant 52-point win at home against Maine.
With M. Singleton — 291 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · -9 rush yds (5 car) · N. Branch — 44 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
App State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · App State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (38 in / 43 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
App State · Last season: 5-8 · Talent rank #85 · 2026 recruiting class #59
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Nelson Ceaser’s 2021 season.
85%match
Matches Nelson on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Hurry rate
Differs from Nelson on
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Nelson Ceaser's freshman season at Houston (2021).
Matches Nelson on
Height
Hurry rate
Sack rate
Differs from Nelson on
Class year (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Caleb Sandstrom
The defensive line · App State
- #97Kevin Abrams-Verwayne7 tackles for loss · 2025
- #33Aiden Benton5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #41Caleb Sandstrom4 tackles for loss · 2025
- #3Joseph Bakhole2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #45Nick Campbell2 tackles for loss · 2025
21 more on the roster · App State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology