Kaleb Cost, North Carolina DB: the 2026 season story
Kaleb Cost is a senior defensive back for North Carolina (ACC). He ranks 1679th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Kaleb Cost's strongest measure is tackles per game at 3.6, 405th of 921 (the average is 3.7). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.00, 795th of 921 (the average is 0.31).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His tackles per game, 3.6, ranks 405th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive back he is. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 56th percentile for volume, 25th for efficiency and 1st for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 7 games, Kaleb Cost's best came in week 1 at TCU and his quietest in week 10 at UConn.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Kaleb Cost is 871st of 921 FBS defensive backs and 99th of 106 in the ACC. Next up nationally is La'Modrick Spencer of SMU, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2024 at North Carolina, 197th of 1,077 defensive backs.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Caleb Flagg of UCF.
