#22
Minnesota · 2026

Mekhai Smith

DBJunior6' 2", 215 lbsLower Merion, PA
Minnesota Golden Gophers4-2 · TDC #66
Snap share
64%
likely 46–73%
Tackles
19
1022nd of 5408 in FBS
Solo
11
Tackles for loss
0.5
2021st of 2450 in FBS
Sacks
0
Interceptions
0

Advanced

Computed from every play, garbage time excluded. FBS rank among players with enough volume

DefenseValueFBS rank
Havoc plays0—
Tackles for loss0—
Run stops0—
Sacks0—
Pass breakups0—
Interceptions0—
Forced fumbles0—
Tackles9—

Charting

Where Smith's plays went: throw and catch spots, air yards and yards after the catch, read from the play-by-play

Passes defended
0
0 broken up · 0 intercepted
QB hurries
0
as the play text names the rusher
Tackles after a catch
4
19.5 yds per catch on those
YAC on those catches
14.8
yds after the catch before his tackle
Coverage plays
4
PBUs + INTs + tackles after a catch

The play-by-play names the defender on breakups, interceptions and tackles, but not the man in coverage on every throw, so true times-targeted isn't in the text. Coverage plays is the closest stand-in; exact targets come from hand charting.

Game Log

Mekhai Smith's box score, game by game, from ESPN, with a 0–10 game score for each (hover it for how it works). Click a result for the full game

5.8 avg. game scoreBest: 6.5 vs Mississippi State (Week 2)0 of 4 games at 8.0+
Defense
WkOpponentResultGame scoreTklSoloTFLSacksHurPDINTTD
1Eastern IllinoisW 59–75.3320000··
2Mississippi StateL 13–386.5740.5000··
3AkronW 41–75.2310000··
4@WashingtonW 27–24—no stats recorded
5MichiganW 20–14—no stats recorded
6@PurdueL 13–416.1640000··
2026 · 4 games5.819110.5000··

2026 Season Stats

FBS rank among qualifying players

Defense2026FBS rank
Tackles191022nd / 5408
Solo11—
Tackles for loss0.52021st / 2450
Sacks0—
QB hurries0—
Passes defended0—
Defensive TD0—

Snaps by Game

Estimated snaps from a model trained on real NFL snap counts. Ranges in brackets are where the real number lands 80% of the time: wide for a single game, tighter over the season. How it works

GameOpp. playsEst. snapsPlays madeSnap share
Wk 1 · Eastern Illinois43~42 (17–43)398%
Wk 2 · Mississippi State68~68 (27–68)7100%
Wk 3 · Akron60~45 (18–48)375%
Wk 6 · Purdue71~67 (27–71)694%
Season345222 (158–253)1964%

Position Room

19 DBs on the Minnesota roster, ordered by tkl

#PlayerPosClassTklTFLSacksINTPD
14Kerry BrownDBSR3420—1
4Zack HardenDBSO302012
Aydan WestDB210015
17John NestorDBSR204012
22Mekhai SmithDBJR190.50—0
9Garrison MonroeDBSR700—0
7Aidan GousbyDBSR600—0
21Naiim ParrishDBSO610—2
28Trason RichardsonDBFR200—0
8Mike GeraldDBJR100—0
18Rhyland KellyDBSR100—0
13Zahir RainerDBJR—————
15Samuel MaduDBJR—————
20Parker KnutsonDBSR—————
23Lamont HamiltonDBFR—————
24Chance PayneDBFR—————
25Justin HopkinsDBFR—————
27Simon SeidlDBJR—————
31Jordan LampkinsDBFR—————

Stats, EPA and usage come from CollegeFootballData.com and refresh daily. FBS ranks only count players with enough volume for the stat to mean something. Qualifying for EPA takes —+ plays per team game. Minnesota depth chart →