Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 80-6vs Northwestern State | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 14-45@ LSU | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#35
Cole Watson
Redshirt sophomore linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 220 lb · Marshall, TX · Tatum HS
Returning to Louisiana Tech for 2026
The numbers
5
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, at LSU
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Louisiana Tech in 2024.
Cole Watson
He has spent two seasons in the Louisiana Tech linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against LSU, Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Louisiana Tech3-star out of Tatum
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Louisiana Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Sonny Cumbie — 9-6 over that span.
2025Louisiana Tech8-5HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-heavy
2026Louisiana Tech1-1HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-leaning, slow tempo
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 2 games: 2.5 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
Sonny Cumbie
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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Louisiana Tech | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Louisiana Tech | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 12 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 80–6
2 TOT
Dominant 74-point win at home against Northwestern State.
With J. Mickens — 31 rush yds (2 car) · B. Baker — 232 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 1 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Louisiana Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Louisiana Tech
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -13 net (11 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Louisiana Tech · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #124 · 2026 recruiting class #99
Background
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS CUSA Comissioner's Honor Roll (2025, 2026) REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2025) Played in all 13 games … Finished the season with 10 tackles (two solo, eight assists), a half tackle for loss and one forced fumble … Forced a fumble and recorded a tackle in the opener against Southeaster...
The linebacker corps · Louisiana Tech
- #22Jadon Mayfield61 tackles · 2025
- #10Kolbe Fields39 tackles · 2025
- #21Zheric Hill32 tackles · 2025
- #23Alonzo Jackson Jr.29 tackles · 2025
- #35Cole Watson7 tackles · 2025
8 more on the roster · Louisiana Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology