Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-14vs Murray State | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#13
Ashton Taylor
Redshirt senior linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 224 lb · Hoover, AL · Hoover
Returning to Middle Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
7
tackles · 2026
1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, vs Murray State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Tennessee Tech in 2022.
Ashton Taylor
The receipt on tape: 4 tackles against Murray State, Week 1, 2026.
7 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2022
- Signed with Tennessee Techout of Hoover
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Middle Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Middle Tennessee1-1HC: Derek Mason · Pass-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
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 2 games: 3.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Derek Mason
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
4 TOT · 2 SOLO · 1 PD
Dominant 24-point win at home against Murray State.
With R. Gagliano — 200 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 25 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Lacy — 8 rec · 118 yds · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Middle Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Middle Tennessee
Returning around him
- 1 Middle Tennessee player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (20 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Middle Tennessee · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #109 · 2026 recruiting class #119
Background
2025 (r-Junior at Jackson State) • Played in 11 games • Ended the year with 49 tackles, including 10.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles • 2025 Preseason Second Team All-SWAC • Had a season-high seven stops against Southern and Alcorn 2024 (r-Sophomore at Jackson State) •...
The linebacker corps · Middle Tennessee
- #26Korey Smith38 tackles · 2025
- #46Reggie Johnson35 tackles · 2025
- #31Mathias Malaki-Donaldson7 tackles · 2025
- #16Jaiyden Thompson4 tackles · 2025
- #13Ashton Taylor2 games · 2026
11 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology