Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 77-6vs Southern | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#17
Christian Brathwaite
Junior linebacker for Houston. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 220 lb · Cypress, TX · Cypress Ranch HS
Returning to Houston for 2026
The numbers
3
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Southern
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Houston. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to LSU in 2023.
- Transferred from LSU to Houston in 2024.
Christian Brathwaite
Christian Brathwaite has played for two head coaches across three seasons and two programs. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles, 1 TFL against Southern, Week 2, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with LSU3-star out of Cy Ranch
2024
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023
Houston
Coaching transition mid-career: Dana Holgorsen → Willie Fritz. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023LSU10-3HC: Brian Kelly · Balanced
2025Houston10-3HC: Willie Fritz · Run-leaning
2026Houston2-0HC: Willie Fritz · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
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: 3.0 TKL/g, 1.0 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
Willie Fritz
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 77–6
vs Southern
3 TOT · 3 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 71-point win at home against Southern.
With K. Henderson — 83 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 23.8 · 54 rush yds (1 car) · 1 TD · C. Weigman — 120 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 48.3 · 6 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Houston
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Houston
Returning around him
- 1 Houston player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +1 net (18 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Houston · Last season: 10-3 (AP #25) · Talent rank #57 · 2026 recruiting class #38
Background
As a Sophomore (2025) Played in 10 games on defense and special teams 79.2 PFF tackling grade ranked fourth on the team Posted a multi-tackle game against SFA As a Redshirt Freshman (2024) Made Cougar debut at #15/13 Oklahoma (Sept. 7) Played in one game Two snaps played at #15/13 Oklahoma (Sept....
The linebacker corps · Houston
- #1Jaden Yates55 tackles · 2025
- #12Sione Fotu53 tackles · 2025
- #10Latreveon McCutchin37 tackles · 2025
- #19Miller Malone37 tackles · 2025
- #17Christian Brathwaite2 tackles · 2025
10 more on the roster · Houston team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology