Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 57-0vs Kent State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-9vs Towson | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
FJ
Fred Johnson
Junior linebacker for South Carolina. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 241 lb · Norfolk, VA
CFB Index 63 · #182 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to South Carolina 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
5
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, vs Towson
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for South Carolina. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to South Carolina in 2024.
Fred Johnson
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Third year in the South Carolina linebacker corps, same address the whole way. His first career honor landed in 2025: SEC Defensive Player of the Week. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against Towson, Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
He arrived as a blue-chip recruit and played like one.
20244 games
- Signed with South Carolina4-star out of Maury
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
South Carolina
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
South Carolina
Played his entire career under Shane Beamer.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Shane Beamer — 15-12 over that span.
2024South Carolina9-4HC: Shane Beamer · Run-heavy
2025South Carolina4-8HC: Shane Beamer · Run-leaning
2026South Carolina2-0HC: Shane Beamer · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (83rd percentile). 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, 0.0 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
Shane Beamer
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
63 · #182 of 583 LBs
Former four-star. Now #182 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #25 of 76 SEC LBs
How the All-SEC 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 | South Carolina | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | South Carolina | 62 | 38 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 73 | 43 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 45–9
vs Towson
3 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 QB HUR
Dominant 36-point win at home against Towson.
With L. Sellers — 96 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · 119 rush yds (7 car) · 1 TD · M. Fuller — 125 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
South Carolina
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · South Carolina
Returning around him
- 3 South Carolina players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (27 in / 25 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
South Carolina · Last season: 4-8 (AP #11) · Talent rank #15 · 2026 recruiting class #14
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Trenton Simpson’s 2022 season.
75%match
All-ACCNFL Rd 3 · Pk 23
Matches Trenton on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Weight
Differs from Trenton on
Class year (higher)
Solo tackle rate (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Justin Okoronkwo's sophomore season at South Carolina (2025).
85%match
Matches Justin on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Fred Johnson
The linebacker corps · South Carolina
- #17Justin Okoronkwo63 tackles · 2025
- Fred Johnson62 tackles · 2025
- #7Shawn Murphy49 tackles · 2025
- #34Jamian Risher Jr.4 tackles · 2025
- #15Donovan Darden1 tackle · 2025
4 more on the roster · South Carolina team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology