Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 13-14vs Colorado | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#88
A.J. Hoffler
Senior defensive end on Georgia Tech's 2026 roster.
6′4″ · 260 lb · Atlanta, GA · Woodward Academy
CFB Index 9 · #410 of 420 edge rushersMedium confidenceReturning to Georgia Tech for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
2 tackles
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Colorado
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive end on Georgia Tech's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Clemson in 2023.
- Transferred from Clemson to Georgia Tech in 2025.
A.J. Hoffler
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Two head coaches in four seasons, at two different programs. The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Colorado, Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20234 games
- Signed with Clemson4-star out of Woodward Academy
20258 games
The role got bigger.
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Georgia Tech
Played his entire career under Brent Key.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Clemson9-4HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced, fast tempo
2024Clemson10-4HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced
2025Georgia Tech9-4HC: Brent Key · Run-leaning
2026Georgia Tech0-2HC: Brent Key · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 2.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Brent Key
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
9 · #410 of 420 edge rushers
Former four-star. Now #410 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #72 of 73 ACC DLs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Georgia Tech | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Georgia Tech | 17 | 9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Clemson | 11 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Clemson | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 33 | 17 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Georgia Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive end · Georgia Tech
Returning around him
- 2 Georgia Tech players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (19 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Georgia Tech · Last season: 9-4 (AP #24) · Talent rank #34 · 2026 recruiting class #41
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Cormontae Hamilton’s 2022 season.
Matches Cormontae on
TFL rate
Weight
Sack rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Anthony Jones's junior season at Michigan State (2024).
84%match
Matches Anthony on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like A.J. Hoffler
The defensive line · Georgia Tech
- #9Amontrae Bradford5.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #41Taje McCoy3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Brayden Manley3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #10Jordan Walker2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #88A.J. Hoffler2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
16 more on the roster · Georgia Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology