Kingston Lopa
Scouting Report
A long, rangy ball hawk at safety.
The case for
- Rare 6-5, 210 frame for a safety
- Length that shrinks throwing windows and contests passes
- Elite ball skills from his receiver background, tracks and high-points the ball
The worry
- Timed speed is below average, which raises range questions as a single-high safety
- Missed eight tackles in eight games
- Only one season of starting experience after a reserve role at Oregon
Full report
Kingston Lopa is a long, rangy safety who went from a reserve at Oregon to one of the most productive defensive backs in the country in his first year at Cal. At 6-5 and 210 pounds he has a rare frame for the position, and he uses it to shrink throwing windows, contest passes and match up with tight ends and bigger slot receivers. A former high school receiver and part-time corner, he tracks the ball well, high-points it and plays with a pass catcher's hands, which shows in five interceptions, including a three-pick game against Syracuse that featured a pick-six. He reads the quarterback's eyes in zone, can work as a deep half or mid-hook defender, and will fire downhill against the run. The questions are real. His timed speed looks below average, so his range as a single-high safety is uncertain, he has missed eight tackles in eight games, and he needs to prove he can play with lower pad level and cleaner change of direction. He has one season of starting experience and has dealt with a concussion this fall. As a redshirt sophomore he may return to school rather than enter the draft. Evaluators are split on his stock: the high end saw a first-round talent early in the year, while the board consensus now sits in the second round, with a range running from early Day 2 into early Day 3. His floor is a sub-package coverage player and his ceiling is a starting two-high or box safety.
Every strength
- Five interceptions, three in one game at Syracuse including a pick-six
- Reads the quarterback's eyes in zone and drives on throws from depth
- Can match tight ends and big slot receivers in man coverage
- Versatile enough to play slot, deep half or mid hook in Cover 2
- Comes downhill and is willing to get physical in run support
Every weakness
- Pad level and hip fluidity coming out of his backpedal, common for taller defenders
- Needs more strength taking on blocks in the open field
- Consistency in the middle of the field
- Concussion this October
- Production came on a losing team and has to hold up over the final month
Recruited
Class of 2024 · Safety · High school: Grant Union, Sacramento, CA
Partial offer list. Offer lists for the 2024 class are partial everywhere we can read them: we hold 3 or more offers for 81 of 2,548 recruits, and we grade only those boards.
College: Oregon 2024-25
NFL Comps
One of one. No NFL player had a college career this close. Closest: Aaron Rouse ’07 (43%).
Of his 20 closest coming out: 3 stars, 2 starters, 9 backups, 6 didn't stick.
Draft Movement
Up 40 spots since Sep.
Where he sits on the consensus big board, each week since Sep. Up is better.
College Stats
| Season | Team | G | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Oregon | 15 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 |  California | 9 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Career | 24 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
From our play-by-play, so the yards can sit a touch under the official box score.
Strengths and weaknesses in the numbers
Where his 2026 season ranks among the 549 FBS safeties who have played enough to qualify, through 9 games.
Where he stands out
- Interceptions: 5 in 9 games, tied for 1st of 549 (top 1%).
From our play-by-play. Season totals are ranked per game. A number is listed only when it puts him in the top fifth or the bottom quarter of the group.
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $1.81M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and California's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Portal: transferred from Oregon to California for 2026.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Awards & Honors
Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week; Bednarik Award National Player of the Week; ACC Defensive Back of the Week; Polynesian Bowl selection; first-team all-state in high school
Kingston Lopa 2027 NFL Draft profile
Our latest mock draft, November 9, 2026: pick 52 to the New England Patriots. See the Patriots depth chart he would join, or the full mock.
Scouting report last written November 13, 2026. Consensus board last rebuilt November 9, 2026. Stats through 9 games of the 2026 season.
Where is Kingston Lopa projected to go in the 2027 NFL Draft?
Kingston Lopa is No. 59 of 673 prospects on the 2027 consensus big board. Projection: Third round. Our own ranking has him No. 62. Our latest mock draft (November 9, 2026) has the New England Patriots taking him at pick 52.
How tall is Kingston Lopa and what is his 40 time?
Kingston Lopa is listed at 6-5 and 210 pounds. We do not have a verified 40-yard dash time for him yet.
What are Kingston Lopa's strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths: Rare 6-5, 210 frame for a safety. Length that shrinks throwing windows and contests passes. Elite ball skills from his receiver background, tracks and high-points the ball. Weaknesses: Timed speed is below average, which raises range questions as a single-high safety. Missed eight tackles in eight games. Only one season of starting experience after a reserve role at Oregon.