Missouri State · L 3-24
7 tackles, 1.5 for loss
The other 7 games average 4 tackles. This one was 3 above.
Brian Bates Jr.
On tape: 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss against Tulsa, Week 2, 2026.
36 tackles · 1 sack
Play style
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
36 tackles. 0 passes defended. 0 interceptions. 6 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
No outlet on our list has written about this player by name this season.
The New York Times Oct 28Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sam Houston | 36 | 15 | 6.0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 36 | 15 | 6.0 | 1.0 |
Last game (Wk 9): 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 21-24@ Troy | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 17-23vs Tulsa | 9 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 59-0vs Nicholls | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 14-49@ No. 11 Texas Tech | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | L 3-35@ Liberty | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | L 3-16vs Western Kentucky | 5 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 24-30vs New Mexico State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | L 3-24@ Missouri State | 7 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 36 | 15 | 6.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
Oct. 27 · L 3-24 at Missouri State, play by play
7 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 6 tackles for loss, 1 of them a sack, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Sam Houston’s defense played that day
Missouri State’s 9 drives: 5 stopped · 4 scored. While the game was within a score they held 4 of 7.
2 tackles. The pressure he forced on 4th and 3 ended New Mexico State’s drive (downs).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Hurried the quarterback on 4th and 3. Second quarter, up 10-7. Ended New Mexico State’s drive (downs).
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 6 for him; the box score credits 5.
3 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 5 for him; the box score credits 4.
3 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
3 tackles, including 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss on 3rd and 2. Third quarter, down 17-14.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -17 to +18 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Tackle volume
36tackles this seasonTFL rate
17%6 TFLSack rate
3%1 sackPD rate
0%0 pass breakups36 tackles · 6 for loss · 1 sack.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home4g | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road4g | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Phil Longo
Pass share
55.6%
278 pass / 222 run
Plays / game
62.5
8 games
Team sack rate
6.0%
319 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Pass-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS linebacker who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Unranked recruit. Now #290 at the position.
2026 is in progress.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Biff Poggi and Phil Longo.
