Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 49-30vs Louisiana | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#10
Braylan Shelby
Senior defensive end on USC's 2026 roster.
6′5″ · 260 lb · Friendswood, TX · Friendswood HS
CFB Index 66 · #119 of 420 edge rushersMedium confidenceReturning to USC 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
1 tackles
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, vs Louisiana
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive end on USC's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to USC in 2023.
Braylan Shelby
Bull-rushes through contact at the point of attack. This is his fourth year in the same defensive front at USC. The receipt: 1 tackles against Louisiana — Week 2, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20239 games
- Signed with USC4-star out of Friendswood
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
USC
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Played his entire career under Lincoln Riley.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Lincoln Riley — 27-15 over that span.
2023USC8-5HC: Lincoln Riley · Pass-leaning, slow tempo
2024USC7-6HC: Lincoln Riley · Pass-leaning
2025USC9-4HC: Lincoln Riley · Balanced
2026USC3-0HC: Lincoln Riley · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidenceSustained Ascent
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: 1.0 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
Lincoln Riley
Pass share
46.0%
97 pass / 114 run
Plays / game
70.3
3 games
Team sack rate
2.0%
102 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
66 · #119 of 420 edge rushers
Former four-star. Now #119 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #5 of 11 Big Ten DEs
How the All-Big Ten 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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 49–30
vs Louisiana
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Bull-rushes through contact, winning with size and length at the point of attack.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
USC
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive end · USC
Returning around him
- 3 USC players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -13 net (9 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
USC · Last season: 9-4 (AP #16) · Talent rank #9 · 2026 recruiting class #1
DNA match
Player DNA
Power Rusher
Bull-rushes through contact, winning with size and length at the point of attack.
EDGE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kris Trinidad’s 2022 season.
86%match
Matches Kris on
Sack rate
TFL rate
Height
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Emar'Rion Winston's junior season at Baylor (2025).
81%match
Matches Emar'Rion on
Pressure-to-sack conversion
Hurry rate
TFL rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Braylan Shelby
Background
CAREER: Through his three-year career, Shelby has recorded 75 tackles, including 16 for loss of 67 yards (with 9.5 sacks for minus 44 yards), 4 QB hurries, 1 INT, 1 PBU and 1 forced fumble while appearing in 37 games with 9 starts. 2026: Shelby, a veteran presence on the defensive line, returns t...
The defensive line · USC
- #1Kameryn Fountain10.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #4Jahkeem Stewart7.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #10Braylan Shelby6 tackles for loss · 2025
- #97Jide Abasiri4 tackles for loss · 2025
- #18Zuriah Fisher3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
16 more on the roster · USC team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology