Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 7-38@ New Mexico | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#34
Drew Esper
Freshman linebacker for Central Michigan. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 220 lb · Traverse City, MI · Traverse City West H.S.
Returning to Central Michigan for 2026
The numbers
4
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, at New Mexico
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Central Michigan. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Central Michigan in 2026.
Drew Esper
The receipt on tape: 4 tackles against New Mexico, Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with Central Michigan3-star out of Traverse City West
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Central Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Central Michigan1-1HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, 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 1 game: 4.0 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
Matt Drinkall
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 | Central Michigan | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Central Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Central Michigan
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (12 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Central Michigan · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #95
Background
Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2026. HIGH SCHOOL A December 2025 graduate of Traverse City West High School, where he played three years of varsity football for head coach James Wagner … Two-time First Team Division 1-2 All-State honoree … Named First Team All-State by the Detroit Free P...
The linebacker corps · Central Michigan
- #11Xavier White26 tackles · 2025
- #8Victor Earl15 tackles · 2025
- #10Jeremiah Alston-Jackson1 tackle · 2025
- #35Mayson Hitchens2 games · 2026
- #34Drew Esper1 game · 2026
5 more on the roster · Central Michigan team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology