Kelton McCaslin, North Dakota State DE: the 2026 season story
Kelton McCaslin is a senior defensive lineman for North Dakota State (Mountain West). He ranks 88th of 1,709 defensive linemen in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive lineman on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive lineman, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Kelton McCaslin's strongest measure is sacks per game at 0.54, 50th of 892 (the average is 0.19). His weakest is tackles per game at 2.2, 514th of 892 (the average is 2.6).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.2, ranks 514th among 892 ranked defensive linemen.
Against every defensive lineman
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive linemen he sits, on average, in the 42nd percentile for volume and 80th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 8 games, Kelton McCaslin's best came in week 1 against Jacksonville State and his quietest in week 3 at Sacramento State.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive lineman on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Kelton McCaslin is 71st of 892 FBS defensive linemen and 5th of 58 in the Mountain West. Next up nationally is Tyree Weathersby of Tennessee, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Defensive linemen like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Tyree Weathersby of Tennessee.
