Michigan State Spartans#21 · DB Nikai Martinez
84 Overall rating steady- Height
- 5-11
- Weight
- 196 lb
- Class
- Senior
- Hometown
- Apopka, FL
Nikai Martinez is a DB (#21) for Michigan State, from Apopka, FL. In the 2026 season he has 16 tackles over 5 games. Season-by-season stats and the game log are below.
Skill profile
Production
Tackles 18
Sacks 3
Interceptions 9
Passes defensed 13
Forced fumbles 3
Splash plays 8
Efficiency
Tackles per game 17
Sack rate 3
Coverage 15
Ball-hawking 9
Run defense 18
Havoc rate 13
Measurables
Height 4
Weight 7
Frame 5
Experience 17
How we rate The BIG10.CO skill model methodology & sources
Every rating is produced by our own model. Not a vendor score. Each skill is graded 0-20 by where a player ranks against others at his position, and the Overall is a position-normalized rating where an elite player tops out near 96 (a rare 97 plus is reserved for all-time greats) so a cornerback and a receiver read on the same scale. Ratings are built through week 6 of the 2026 season and refreshed every week through the season, so the ▲/▼ beside the Overall is the genuine move since last week.
- Data. Real box-score production from CollegeFootballData, drawn from official game stats.
- Method. Each stat is turned into a within-position percentile, then blended across a player's recent seasons, weighted by games played so recent, full seasons lead and an injury year does not sink the score.
- People. Compiled by The BIG10.CO Desk and checked by Coverage Review against the official book.
- Updates. Recomputed on Mondays once the week's games are final. Corrections are logged in our editorial & corrections policy.
2026 season
16
Tackles
0.0
Sacks
0
Interceptions
0.5
Tackles for loss
2
Passes defended
0
Forced fumbles
Nikai Martinez career stats by year
| Season | Tm | G | Tackles | Sacks | INT | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | MSU | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | MSU | 4 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | MSU | 11 | 51 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | UCF | 11 | 49 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | UCF | 11 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | 42 | 157 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Season totals, 2022 to 2026. Source: CollegeFootballData.
Schedule and results
Status
Result
Season
31
7
20
28
28
24
40
6
17
38
0
10No games match these filters.
Box score log
| Date | Opp | Result | TKL | SACK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 | at Wisconsin | L 3-31 | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 26 | vs Nebraska | L 13-31 | 4 | 0 |
| Sep 19 | at Notre Dame | L 10-27 | 4 | 0 |
| Sep 12 | vs Eastern Michigan | W 35-7 | 5 | 0 |
| Sep 4 | vs Toledo | W 30-20 | 1 | 0 |
Career timeline
- NowMichigan State DB: #21
- ClassSenior
- HometownApopka, FL
Nikai Martinez: Michigan State DB profile and stats
Nikai Martinez is a DB (#21) for Michigan State, from Apopka, FL. This profile tracks Nikai Martinez's season stats, skill ratings and game log through the 2026 season, and links straight into the Michigan State roster, the Big Ten players hub and the conference schedule. To see where Michigan State sits in the race, check the live Big Ten standings.
Nikai Martinez in the news
All newsPreviewIllinois at Michigan State: how to watch, Week 6 2026Week 6: Illinois visits Michigan State at Spartan Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 PM ET, on FS1.2026-10-07RecapNotre Dame beat Michigan State 27-10 (Week 3, 2026)Notre Dame beat Michigan State 27-10 at Notre Dame Stadium. Now Notre Dame is 3-0, and Michigan State is 2-1.2026-09-19RecapMichigan State beat Eastern Michigan 35-7 (Week 2, 2026)Michigan State beat Eastern Michigan 35-7 at Spartan Stadium. Now Michigan State is 2-0, and Eastern Michigan is 1-2.2026-09-12
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Frequently asked questions
What team does Nikai Martinez play for?
Nikai Martinez plays for Michigan State, wearing #21 at DB.
What position does Nikai Martinez play?
Nikai Martinez is a DB for Michigan State.
How tall is Nikai Martinez?
Nikai Martinez is 5-11 and weighs 196 lb.
What year is Nikai Martinez in?
Nikai Martinez is listed as a senior on the Michigan State roster.
Where is Nikai Martinez from?
Nikai Martinez is from Apopka, FL.
How many tackles does Nikai Martinez have?
Nikai Martinez has 16 tackles in the 2026 season. Full numbers are in the stats above.