Cincinnati · W 49-25
3 tackles
The other 5 games average 2 tackles. This one was 1 above.
Chenault has tackles in 6 of Utah’s 8 games: none against Kansas and Colorado.
James Chenault
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. Played for three head coaches across three seasons and two programs. A game that shows it: 4 tackles against Houston — Week 8, 2026.
15 tackles · 0 sacks
Play style
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
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| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Utah | 15 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | South Florida | 32 | 20 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | South Florida | 12 | 11 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 59 | 43 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 10 | 5 |
Last game (Wk 9): 3 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
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| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 66-14vs Idaho | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 43-10vs Arkansas | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 | |
| Wk 3 | W 33-0vs Utah State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | W 31-17@ Iowa State | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 41-24vs Kansas | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
| Wk 7 | W 27-24@ Colorado | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
| Wk 8 | W 21-13vs No. 14 Houston | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 9 | W 49-25@ Cincinnati | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 4 |
Oct. 31 · W 49-25 at Cincinnati, play by play
3 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: coverage — 4 passes defended in the 8 games with play by play.
How Utah’s defense played that day
Cincinnati’s 11 drives: 7 stopped (2 takeaways) · 4 scored.
4 tackles, including 1 pass broken up. His pass breakup on 4th and 1 ended Houston’s drive (downs).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Broke up a pass on 4th and 1. First quarter, tied 0-0. Ended Houston’s drive (downs).
0 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception ended Colorado’s drive (int).
Intercepted. Fourth quarter, up 20-17. Ended Colorado’s drive (int).
0 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception on 3rd and 9 ended Kansas’s drive (int).
Intercepted on 3rd and 9. First quarter, up 14-0. Ended Kansas’s drive (int).
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
1 tackle, 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 2 passes broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 1 of his 2, sacks included.
3 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -9 to +13 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
27%4 pass breakupsInterceptions
2interceptionsTackle volume
15tackles this season15 tackles · 0.5 for loss · 4 pass breakups · 2 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Road3g | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Morgan Scalley
Pass share
45.0%
247 pass / 302 run
Plays / game
68.6
8 games
Team sack rate
3.7%
272 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Fewer tackles a game than most FBS defensive backs who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #35 at the position.
The No. 1,863 recruit in the country is starting in the secondary in the Big 12.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 23 games over three seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Alex Golesh and Morgan Scalley.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Utah
Big 12 Conference
