#26

Gary Rutherford

Sophomore linebacker for Wyoming. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.

LB · Wyoming · So. · #26

6′1″ · 237 lb · Peoria, IL

Returning to Wyoming for 2026

Next upSat Sep 19 · 1 pm ETat Central MichiganKelly/Shorts StadiumCentral Michigan by 1.5

How he plays

Tackles: 67th percentile.

The full scouting read

The numbers

tackles · 2026

2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 tackles, vs Northern Colorado

His career numbers, season by season

The story

2 linebacker for Wyoming. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.

Signed as a 3-star recruit to Wyoming in 2024.

His career, year by year

Gary Rutherford

LB · Wyoming · So · #26

He has spent three seasons in the Wyoming linebacker corps. One game to point at: 8 tackles against Colorado State — Week 1, 2026.

14 TACKLES · 0 SACKS

Low coverage — composed from the verified record.

season totals
seasons on the roster
game log

2026 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

3 seasons under Jay Sawvel — 8-18 over that span.

2024Wyoming3-9HC: Jay Sawvel · Run-leaning

2025Wyoming4-8HC: Jay Sawvel · Balanced

2026Wyoming1-1HC: Jay Sawvel · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Where this defender ranks vs the field

Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort

6 metrics · season cumulative

Concern: solo tackles (16th percentile).

Box-score production (6)

Tackles#137 / 457 · 67th pct

Sacks#121 / 457 · 37th pct

0.0

QB hurries#126 / 457 · 36th pct

Passes defended#169 / 457 · 32nd pct

Tackles for loss#279 / 457 · 20th pct

0.0

Solo tackles#353 / 457 · 16th pct

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: 7.0 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

2026 season

Head Coach

Jay Sawvel

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	Wyoming	14	4	0.0	--	--	--
2025	Wyoming	12	7	1.0	--	--	--
2024	Wyoming	1	--	0.0	--	--	--
Career		27	11	1.0	--	--	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026

W 21–13

vs Northern Colorado

6 TOT · 3 SOLO

With B. Edmiston — 46 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 55 LONG · T. Hughes — 149 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 10.5 · 26 rush yds (8 car)

Game log

Game log · Week-by-week

2026 season · 2 games

Box score · CFBD

Wk	Opp	TKL	SOLO	INT	Note
Wk 1	L 13-35@ Colorado State	8	1	—	Season-high 8 tackles
Wk 2	W 21-13vs Northern Colorado	6	3	—
Total		14	4	—

The linebacker corps · Wyoming

#42Ethan StuhlsatzLB · Sr.40 tackles · 2025
#26Gary RutherfordLB · So.12 tackles · 2025
#2Anthony Beavers Jr.LB · Sr.2 tackles · 2025
#46Dash BaumanLB · So.2 tackles · 2025
#34Steven PerezLB · Fr.1 tackle · 2025

5 more on the roster · Wyoming team page

Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology