Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-8vs NC State | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 59-3vs Norfolk State | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 |
#6
Brandyn Hillman
Senior safety for Virginia. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 190 lb · Portsmouth, VA · Churchland
CFB Index 50 · #270 of 544 safetiesMedium confidenceTransferred Michigan → Virginia 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
3
interceptions · 2026
6 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 INT, 2 tackles, vs Norfolk State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 safety for Virginia. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Michigan in 2023.
- Transferred from Michigan to Virginia in 2026.
Brandyn Hillman
Moves between deep coverage and the slot. Brandyn Hillman has played for four head coaches across four seasons and two programs. The receipt on tape: 2 tackles, 2 INT against Norfolk State, Week 2, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
4 programs, one constant: he played.
2023
- Signed with Michigan4-star out of Churchland
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Virginia
Played his entire career under Tony Elliott.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Virginia
2025Michigan
2026Virginia
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Michigan15-0HC: Jim Harbaugh · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Michigan8-5HC: Sherrone Moore · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2025Michigan9-4HC: Biff Poggi · Run-leaning
2026Virginia2-0HC: Tony Elliott · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidenceAscending
Elite: interceptions (98th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
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: 3.0 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
Tony Elliott
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
50 · #270 of 544 safeties
Former four-star. Now #270 at the position.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 59–3
2 TOT · 2 SOLO · 2 INT
Dominant 56-point win at home against Norfolk State.
With B. Pribula — 162 yds · 3 TD · 1 INT · QBR 51.1 · -8 rush yds (2 car) · D. Sparks — 54 AVG · 2 IN 20 · 61 LONG
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Hybrid Nickel
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
S
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Antonio Clary’s 2024 season.
Matches Antonio on
Interceptions
Height
Tackle volume
Differs from Antonio on
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Keon Sabb's junior season at Alabama (2025).
Matches Keon on
TFL rate
PD rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Brandyn Hillman
The secondary · Virginia
- #23Jaylen Jones66 tackles · 2025
- #18Jalen McNair50 tackles · 2025
- #6Brandyn Hillman49 tackles · 2025
- #30Ethan Minter47 tackles · 2025
- #10Jacobie Henderson39 tackles · 2025
18 more on the roster · Virginia team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology