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 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 59-3vs Norfolk State | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#26
Caleb Hardy
Senior linebacker for Virginia. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 217 lb · Mcdonough, GA · Eagles Landing
CFB Index 18 · #514 of 544 safetiesHigh confidenceReturning to 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
4
tackles · 2026
1.5 TFL · 1 sacks
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, vs NC State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Virginia. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Virginia in 2023.
Caleb Hardy
Moves between deep coverage and the slot. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Virginia. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Norfolk State, Week 2, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20234 games
- Signed with Virginia3-star out of Eagle's Landing
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Virginia
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Virginia
Played his entire career under Tony Elliott.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Tony Elliott — 21-19 over that span.
2023Virginia3-9HC: Tony Elliott · Run-leaning
2024Virginia5-7HC: Tony Elliott · Balanced
2025Virginia11-3HC: Tony Elliott · Balanced
2026Virginia2-0HC: Tony Elliott · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). 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 2 games: 2.0 TKL/g, 0.8 TFL/g, 0.5 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
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
18 · #514 of 544 safeties
Three-star recruit. Now #514 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #22 of 25 ACC Ss
How the All-ACC 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 2 · 2026
W 59–3
3 TOT · 1 SOLO · 0 TFL
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
2026 Outlook
Virginia
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Virginia
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +9 net (31 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Virginia · Last season: 11-3 (AP #20) · Talent rank #53 · 2026 recruiting class #111
DNA match
Player DNA
Hybrid Nickel
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jaivion Green’s 2024 season.
Matches Jaivion on
TFL rate
PD rate
Weight
Differs from Jaivion on
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Carson Willich's junior season at Iowa State (2025).
Matches Carson on
Class year
PD rate
Tackle volume
The linebacker corps · Virginia
- #5Kamren Robinson64 tackles · 2025
- #11Maddox Marcellus49 tackles · 2025
- #32Landon Danley48 tackles · 2025
- #26Caleb Hardy17 tackles · 2025
- #13Myles Brown8 tackles · 2025
5 more on the roster · Virginia team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology