Siale Taupaki, Penn State DT: the 2026 season story
Siale Taupaki is a senior defensive lineman for Penn State (Big Ten). He ranks 1533rd 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. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Siale Taupaki's strongest measure is tackles for loss per game at 0.19, 678th of 892 (the average is 0.40). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.00, 372nd of 892 (the average is 0.08).
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, 1.7, ranks 748th among 892 ranked defensive linemen.
Against every defensive lineman
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive lineman he is. Among ranked defensive linemen he sits, on average, in the 16th percentile for volume and 6th 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 9 games, Siale Taupaki's best came in week 2 at Temple and his quietest in week 10 at Washington.
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. Siale Taupaki is 826th of 892 FBS defensive linemen and 111th of 117 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Dailen Howard of Tulsa, 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 2025 at UCLA, 585th of 1,013 defensive linemen.
Defensive linemen 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 Gavin Taylor of Arkansas State.
