Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 30-20vs Toledo | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-7vs Eastern Michigan | 5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
#23
Kenny Soares Jr.
Senior edge rusher for Michigan State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 234 lb · Trumbull, CT · Avon Old Farms
CFB Index 52 · #270 of 583 LBsMedium confidenceTransferred NC State → Michigan 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
1
sack · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, vs Toledo
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior edge rusher for Michigan State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Northwestern in 2022.
- Transferred from NC State to Michigan State in 2026.
Kenny Soares Jr.
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Kenny Soares Jr. has played for three head coaches across four seasons and three programs. The receipt on tape: 5 tackles, 1.5 TFL against Eastern Michigan, Week 2, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
6 programs, one constant: he played.
2022
- Signed with Northwestern3-star out of Avon Old Farms
202513 games
- Entered the portal
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
3 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
3 coaches2023
Michigan State
Played under 3 different head coaches: Mel Tucker, Jonathan Smith, and Pat Fitzgerald. Multi-era developmental context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Michigan State
2025NC State
2026Michigan State
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| 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 | 140 | 66 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 6 | 1 | -- |
Game log
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 30–20
vs Toledo
1 interceptions · 1 tackles · 1 pass breakups
With A. Milivojevic — 247 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 87.3 · -5 rush yds (6 car) · C. Mccray — 4 rush yds (1 car)
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Northwestern8-5HC: David Braun · Run-leaning
2024Northwestern4-8HC: David Braun · Balanced, slow tempo
2025NC State8-5HC: Dave Doeren · Balanced
2026Michigan State2-1HC: Pat Fitzgerald · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidenceBounce-Back
Elite: sacks (84th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
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: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.8 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald
Pass share
39.4%
78 pass / 120 run
Plays / game
66.0
3 games
Team sack rate
10.1%
89 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Starter
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
52 · #270 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #270 at the position.
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Ryan Smenda Jr.’s 2021 season.
85%match
Matches Ryan on
Sack rate
Weight
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Ryan on
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jamal Ligon's junior season at UTSA (2022).
88%match
All-Conference USA
Matches Jamal on
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
PD rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Kenny Soares Jr.
Background
Graduate senior transfer has one season of eligibility remaining . . . has played in 41 career collegiate games (28 at Northwestern from 2022-24; 13 at NC State in 2025) . . . earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern in 2025 in education and social policy . . . played for Coach Pat…
The defensive line · Michigan State
- #23Kenny Soares Jr.4 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Anelu Lafaele2 tackles for loss · 2025
- #96Eli Coenen1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #13Isaac Smith1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #25Carlos Hazelwood0.5 tackles for loss · 2025
14 more on the roster · Michigan State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology