Senior linebacker for Jacksonville State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 230 lb · Acworth, GA · North Cobb Christian
The numbers
tackles · 2026
1 TFL · 1 sacks
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, at Ohio
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Jacksonville State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Jacob Cruz
Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. One game to point at: 8 tackles, 1 sacks against Ohio — Week 2, 2026.
13 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
The role got bigger.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Rich Rodriguez → Charles Kelly. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: sacks (87th percentile).
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 · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 6.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Charles Kelly
Pass share
43.2%
79 pass / 104 run
Plays / game
61.0
3 games
Team sack rate
4.5%
88 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jacksonville State | 13 | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Jacksonville State | 14 | 9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Georgia Tech | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 28 | 16 | 2.5 | 1.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 49–7
1 TOT
Dominant 42-point win at home against Eastern Kentucky.
With C. Creel — 327 yds · 5 TD · 1 INT · 54 rush yds (10 car) · J. Williams — -4 rush yds (1 car)
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 7-33@ North Dakota State | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 1 | W 49-7vs Eastern Kentucky | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 27-29@ Ohio | 8 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 8 tackles |
| Total | 13 | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
2026 Outlook
Jacksonville State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Jacksonville State
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Jacksonville State · Last season: 9-5 · Talent rank #93 · 2026 recruiting class #86
2025: Saw action in 13 games with a pair of starts, playing extensively on special teams along with the defensive line...Made 15 tackles with 1.5 for loss, recorded an interception and a QB hurry...Had three stops with a half TFL and an interception at FIU (11/22)...Made two stops in the IS4S Sal...
13 more on the roster · Jacksonville State team page