Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-16vs Akron | 9 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 38-36@ Purdue | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#43
Frank Cusano
Redshirt sophomore linebacker for Wake Forest. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 222 lb · Granite Bay, CA · Granite Bay
CFB Index 33 · #440 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Wake Forest for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
13
tackles · 2026
0.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Akron
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Wake Forest. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Washington State in 2024.
- Transferred from Washington State to Wake Forest in 2025.
Frank Cusano
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Frank Cusano has played for two head coaches across three seasons and two programs. The receipt on tape: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Akron, Week 1, 2026.
13 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Washington State3-star out of Granite Bay
202512 games
The role got bigger.
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024
Wake Forest
Coaching transition mid-career: Dave Clawson → Jake Dickert. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Washington State8-5HC: Pete Kaligis · Run-leaning
2025Wake Forest9-4HC: Jake Dickert · Balanced
2026Wake Forest2-0HC: Jake Dickert · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Concern: solo tackles (3rd 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: 6.5 TKL/g, 0.2 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
Jake Dickert
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
33 · #440 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #440 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #60 of 74 ACC LBs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wake Forest | 13 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Wake Forest | 45 | 18 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Washington State | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 61 | 23 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 38–36
at Purdue
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Wake Forest
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Wake Forest
Returning around him
- 2 Wake Forest players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +1 net (24 in / 23 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Wake Forest · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #63 · 2026 recruiting class #39
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Noah Chambers’s 2025 season.
82%match
Matches Noah on
Tackle volume
Weight
TFL rate
Differs from Noah on
PD rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Martell Hughes's sophomore season at Arizona State (2025).
Matches Martell on
Sack rate
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Differs from Martell on
Class year (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Frank Cusano
Background
2025 (Redshirt Freshman) Appeared in 12 games for the Demon Deacons… Recorded 45 tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks, and a pass breakup… Stood out in the win against Western Carolina with six tackles and 0.5 sacks… Added three tackles in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Mississippi State...
The linebacker corps · Wake Forest
- #21Aiden Hall73 tackles · 2025
- #43Frank Cusano45 tackles · 2025
- #12Tylan McNichols39 tackles · 2025
- #7Buom Jock2 tackles · 2025
- #40Whittman Whaley2 tackles · 2025
5 more on the roster · Wake Forest team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology