Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-6@ Stanford | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 77-7vs Florida A&M | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#9
Chase Smith
Senior linebacker for Miami. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 240 lb · Palm Bay, FL
CFB Index 22 · #513 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Miami 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
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, at Stanford
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Miami. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Miami in 2021.
Chase Smith
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Chase Smith has played for two head coaches in six seasons at Miami. The receipt: 3 tackles against Stanford — Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 6 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20217 games
- Signed with Miami4-star out of Melbourne
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Miami
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2021–2026
2 coaches2021
Jess Simpson
Miami
Coaching transition mid-career: Jess Simpson → Mario Cristobal. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2021Miami7-5HC: Jess Simpson · Balanced
2022Miami5-7HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2023Miami7-6HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2024Miami10-3HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2025Miami13-3HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2026Miami2-0HC: Mario Cristobal · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (83rd 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, 0.0 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
Mario Cristobal
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
22 · #513 of 583 LBs
Former four-star. Now #513 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #68 of 74 ACC LBs
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 77–7
vs Florida A&M
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
Miami
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Miami
Returning around him
- 9 Miami players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (12 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Miami · Last season: 13-3 (AP #10) · Talent rank #12 · 2026 recruiting class #9
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kolbe Cage’s 2022 season.
Matches Kolbe on
Weight
Tackle volume
PD rate
Differs from Kolbe on
Height (higher)
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Tamon Lynum's graduate season at Pittsburgh (2025).
Matches Tamon on
Hurry rate
PD rate
Tackle volume
Differs from Tamon on
Weight (higher)
The linebacker corps · Miami
- #1Mohamed Toure84 tackles · 2025
- #9Chase Smith31 tackles · 2025
- #4Cam Pruitt10 tackles · 2025
- #30Kellen Wiley Jr.6 tackles · 2025
- #11Kamal Bonner2 tackles · 2025
6 more on the roster · Miami team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology