Kai Wallin
Kai Wallin
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. Across three seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Matt Rhule and Trent Bray. One game to point at: 3 tackles against Tulsa — Week 12, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Jonathan Smith → Trent Bray. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
JaMarcus Shephard
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 1 · 2-deepR03 · Backup
Spot duty on defense. Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Oregon State | 17 | 9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Nebraska | 4 | -- | 0.5 | 0.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Nebraska | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 22 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 8 · 2025
W 45–13
vs Lafayette
3 TOT · 2 SOLO · 1 PD
Dominant 32-point win at home against Lafayette.
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Oregon State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Oregon State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -15 net (20 in / 35 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Oregon State · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #60 · 2026 recruiting class #100
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Donovan Branch’s 2024 season.
Matches Donovan on
Differs from Donovan on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Desmond Umeozulu's junior season at South Carolina (2025).
Matches Desmond on
Differs from Desmond on