Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 33-10vs Abilene Christian | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-24@ Oregon State | 10 | 7 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 10 tackles |
| Total | 15 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.0 | — | 1 |
#13
Ben Roberts
5th-year linebacker for Texas Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 245 lb · Haslet, TX · Eaton
CFB Index 84 · #37 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Texas 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.
How he plays
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
Tackles for loss: 91st percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
15
tackles · 2026
2.5 TFL · 1 sacks · 1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 10 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sacks, at Oregon State
Statement game16 tackles · 1 TFLvs Oregon (FBS) · L 0-23
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Texas Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Texas Tech in 2022.
Ben Roberts
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. Fourth year in the Texas Tech linebacker corps, same address the whole way. In 2025 the league put his name on paper for the first time: All-Big 12. The receipt on tape: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Oregon State, Week 2, 2026.
15 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
2022
- Signed with Texas Tech3-star out of Haslet Eaton
202514 games
- All-Big 12third
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Texas Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-BIG 12
All-Big 12 mention (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Texas Tech
Played his entire career under Joey McGuire.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Joey McGuire — 29-13 over that span.
2023Texas Tech7-6HC: Joey McGuire · Balanced
2024Texas Tech8-5HC: Joey McGuire · Balanced, fast tempo
2025Texas Tech12-2HC: Joey McGuire · Balanced
2026Texas Tech2-0HC: Joey McGuire · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: tackles for loss (91st percentile). Strength: solo tackles (87th 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: 7.5 TKL/g, 1.2 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Joey McGuire
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix to repeat All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #7 of 73 Big 12 LBs
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. 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 | Texas Tech | 15 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Texas Tech | 88 | 43 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 4 | -- |
| 2024 | Texas Tech | 79 | 36 | 4.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Texas Tech | 105 | 56 | 7.0 | 1.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| Career | 287 | 145 | 18.0 | 2.0 | 6 | 5 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 33–10
5 TOT · 3 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 23-point win at home against Abilene Christian.
With W. Hammond — 298 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · 11 rush yds (2 car) · J. Williams — 71 rush yds (13 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Texas Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Texas Tech
Returning around him
- 9 Texas Tech players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (23 in / 21 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Texas Tech · Last season: 12-2 (AP #4) · Talent rank #29 · 2026 recruiting class #18
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
LB
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Tyrin Bradley’s 2023 season.
Matches Tyrin on
Tackle volume
PD rate
TFL rate
Differs from Tyrin on
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Jalil Clemons's senior season at Southern Miss (2022).
Matches Jalil on
Tackle volume
Sack rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Ben Roberts
Background
CAREER AWARDS & HONORS Big 12 Championship Game - Most Outstanding Player (2025, Sr.) All-Big 12 Third Team (2025, Sr.) Shrine Bowl 1000 (2025, Sr.) Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2023, R-Fr.) All-Big 12 honorable mention selection (2023, R-Fr.) Associated Press All-Big 12 second team (20...
The linebacker corps · Texas Tech
- #13Ben Roberts88 tackles · 2025
- #6John Curry73 tackles · 2025
- #15Austin Romaine66 tackles · 2025
- #20Adam Trick57 tackles · 2025
- #2Trey White47 tackles · 2025
16 more on the roster · Texas Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology