Kenny Soares Jr.
Kenny Soares Jr.
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Kenny Soares Jr. has played for two head coaches across three seasons and two programs. The receipt on tape: 14 tackles, 1 TFL against Georgia Tech, Week 10, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Dave Doeren.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dave Doeren
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR06 · Starter
Starter. Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NC State | 80 | 35 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 20 | 13 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Northwestern | 34 | 16 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 134 | 64 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 5 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025
W 35–31
vs Virginia
2 TOT
Edged out Virginia at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
NC State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · NC State
Returning around him
- 2 NC State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (20 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
NC State · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #45 · 2026 recruiting class #49
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Ryan Smenda Jr.’s 2021 season.
Matches Ryan on
Differs from Ryan on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jamal Ligon's junior season at UTSA (2022).
Matches Jamal on