Senior linebacker for Memphis. 2025: 9 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks.
6′0″ · 235 lb · Collierville, TN · Collierville HS
The numbers
tackles · 2025
0.5 TFL · 0.5 sacks
Best game: 1 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, at Troy
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Memphis. 2025: 9 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks.
His career, year by yearDonovan Mathena
Third year in the Memphis linebacker corps, same address the whole way. The receipt: 4 tackles against NC State — Bowl, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Ryan Silverfield.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Ryan Silverfield — 29-10 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
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 · Per-game
2025 season · 5 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road3g | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Charles Huff
Pass share
38.2%
66 pass / 107 run
Plays / game
57.7
3 games
Team sack rate
5.2%
77 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2025
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Game log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 5 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-10vs Chattanooga | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 38-16@ Georgia State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 28-7@ Troy | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 45-7vs Tulsa | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Bowl | L 7-31@ NC State | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 |
2026 Outlook
Memphis
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Memphis
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Memphis · Last season: 8-5 (AP #22) · Talent rank #67 · 2026 recruiting class #72
Honors • 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List • 2025 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team • 2022 AAC All-Academic Team 2024 (Redshirt Sophomore) • Member of the 11-2 Tigers who defeated West Virginia in the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl • Appeared in 12 games on the season • Totaled one tackle agains...
9 more on the roster · Memphis team page