Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-16vs UT Rio Grande Valley | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 31-26@ Texas State | 13 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 13 tackles |
| Total | 18 | 9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#23
Brandon Tucker Jr.
Senior linebacker for UTSA. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 225 lb · Desoto, TX
CFB Index 23 · #511 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to UTSA 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
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage.
Tackles: 88th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
18
tackles · 2026
0.5 TFL · 1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL, at Texas State
His career numbers, season by seasonBrandon Tucker Jr.
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Second year in the UTSA linebacker corps, same address the whole way. One game to point at: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Texas State — Week 2, 2026.
18 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
UTSA
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Jeff Traylor, all balanced offenses — 9-6 over that span.
2025UTSA7-6HC: Jeff Traylor · Balanced
2026UTSA2-0HC: Jeff Traylor · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: tackles (88th percentile). Strength: qb hurries (83rd 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: 9.0 TKL/g, 0.2 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
Jeff Traylor
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
Outside shot for All-AAC
Based on 2025: #52 of 61 American Athletic LBs
How the All-AAC 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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 45–16
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
UTSA
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · UTSA
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -1 net (22 in / 23 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
UTSA · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #72 · 2026 recruiting class #79
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Jacob Manu’s 2022 season.
Matches Jacob on
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Jacob on
Hurry rate (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Kendricks Gladney's junior season at Coastal Carolina (2020).
84%match
Matches Kendricks on
Class year
Hurry rate
TFL rate
The linebacker corps · UTSA
- #23Brandon Tucker Jr.35 tackles · 2025
- #2Owen Pewee28 tackles · 2025
- #32Elijah Baldwin23 tackles · 2025
- #26Bryce Grays22 tackles · 2025
- #31Vic Shaw20 tackles · 2025
25 more on the roster · UTSA team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology