South Carolina · L 24-27
2 tackles
The other 7 games average 3 tackles. This one was 1 below.
4 stories in the last 60 days, from 2 outlets.
From an orphanage in West Africa to the Tennessee Vols: The story of Edwin Spillman
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 16
Edwin Spillman
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Third year in the same linebacker corps at Tennessee. On tape: 5 tackles against Kennesaw State, Week 3, 2026.
25 tackles · 2 sacks
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
25 tackles. 2 passes defended. 0 interceptions. 2 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 2 outlets
From an orphanage in West Africa to the Tennessee Vols: The story of Edwin Spillman
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 16 · 1 outlet
Sports IllustratedTennessee LB Edwin Spillman’s Incredible StorySep 29from 5 outlets
From an orphanage in West Africa to the Tennessee Vols: The story of Edwin Spillman
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 16 · 1 outlet
WVLT30 Days 30 Vols: Why Vols linebacker Edwin Spillman is ‘hungry’ for his junior yearAug 23Sports IllustratedTennessee LB Edwin Spillman’s Incredible StorySep 29Sports Illustrated +1Tennessee Football LB Edwin Spillman Discusses the Expectations of the DefenseSep 1Sports IllustratedEverything Edwin Spillman and Mariyon Dye Said Following Tennessee Football's Win vs. Kennesaw StateSep 20Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedWVLTEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 8): 2 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | L 17-20vs No. 1 Texas | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 24-14vs Auburn | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 24-17@ Arkansas | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 26-10vs No. 6 Alabama | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 24-27@ South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 13 | 2.0 | 2.0 | — | 2 |
Oct. 24 · L 24-27 at South Carolina, play by play
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 2 tackles for loss, 2 of them sacks, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Tennessee’s defense played that day
South Carolina’s 10 drives: 5 stopped (1 takeaway) · 5 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 10.
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 3 of his 4, sacks included.
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles, including 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 3 of his 4, sacks included.
Sacked the quarterback for a 6-yard loss. Third quarter, up 10-7.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Forced a fumble. Fourth quarter, up 42-6.
5 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
2 tackles, including 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss on 3rd and 10. Second quarter, up 7-0.
Ratings of the games shown run from -14 to +21 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Tackle volume
25tackles this seasonTFL rate
8%2 TFLSack rate
8%2 sacksPD rate
8%2 pass breakups25 tackles · 2 for loss · 2 sacks.
3 seasons under Josh Heupel — 24-10 over that span.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Road3g | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
37.5%
207 pass / 345 run
Plays / game
69.0
8 games
Team sack rate
9.1%
242 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
Fewer tackles a game than most FBS linebackers who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former four-star. Now #250 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #16 of 76 SEC LBs
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 22% of returning players who ranked #11–20 at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 19–25%).
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 25 games over three seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed every college season under Josh Heupel.
