Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 49-21vs Ohio | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 56-7vs Bowling Green | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#40
Dawson Merritt
Sophomore linebacker for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 225 lb · Stilwell, KS · Blue Valley
Returning to Nebraska for 2026
The numbers
5
tackles · 2026
1 TFL · 1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Ohio
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Nebraska in 2025.
Dawson Merritt
He has spent two seasons in the Nebraska linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles, 1 TFL against Ohio, Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20254 games
- Signed with Nebraska4-star out of Blue Valley
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Nebraska
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Matt Rhule, all run-leaning offenses — 9-6 over that span.
2025Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
2026Nebraska2-0HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
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, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Rhule
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 56–7
1 TOT · 1 PD
Dominant 49-point win at home against Bowling Green.
With A. Colandrea — 222 yds · 4 TD · 1 INT · QBR 52.8 · 33 rush yds (4 car) · J. Barney Jr. — 8 rec · 115 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Nebraska
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Nebraska
Returning around him
- 1 Nebraska player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (17 in / 19 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Nebraska · Last season: 7-6 (AP #25) · Talent rank #22 · 2026 recruiting class #88
The linebacker corps · Nebraska
- #33Owen Chambliss90 tackles · 2025
- #9Vincent Shavers Jr.61 tackles · 2025
- #24Dexter Foster52 tackles · 2025
- #45Dylan Rogers11 tackles · 2025
- #40Dawson Merritt8 tackles · 2025
9 more on the roster · Nebraska team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology