Junior defensive end for Kansas. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 255 lb · Raleigh, NC · Millbrook HS
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.
How he plays
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack.
Tackles for loss: 95th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
sack · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 1 TFL, 4 tackles, vs Arizona State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Junior defensive end for Kansas. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
David Santiago
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack. Across three seasons and three programs, three head coaches: Troy Calhoun, Jonathan Smith and Lance Leipold. One game to point at: 5 tackles, 1 TFL against Missouri — Week 2, 2026.
13 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
6 programs, one constant: he played.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Lance Leipold.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Kansas
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kansas | 13 | 9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Michigan State | 24 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Air Force | 37 | 22 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 3 | -- | -- |
| Career | 74 | 41 | 11.0 | 6.0 | 4 | -- | -- |
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 4 | 3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 21-38vs Missouri | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 3 | L 17-24vs Arizona State | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
1.5 tackles for loss · 4 tackles · 1 hurries
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)
Since week 2: +1 sack, +1 tackle for loss, +4 tackles.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: tackles for loss (95th percentile). Strength: sacks (84th percentile). Concern: passes defended (28th percentile).
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.
Defender profile · Production by role
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Sack rate
8%1 sacksTFL rate
27%4 TFL13 tackles · 4 for loss · 1 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Leipold
Pass share
41.2%
89 pass / 127 run
Plays / game
72.0
3 games
Team sack rate
5.1%
99 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Play style
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Paul Oyewale’s 2025 season.
Matches Paul on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Adepoju Adebawore's junior season at Oklahoma (2025).
Matches Adepoju on
Player DNA
Get to Know David... At what age did you start playing football and how did you get into it? I started playing Pop Warner when I was 5 years old and my dad and older brother played. Who was your favorite player growing up or who is someone you model your game after? My favorite player was Von…
15 more on the roster · Kansas team page