Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 41-13vs Wisconsin | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 52-0vs Rice | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#3
Jaylen Sneed
Senior linebacker for Notre Dame. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 227 lb · Hilton Head Island, SC · Hilton Head HS
CFB Index 51 · #281 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Notre Dame 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: 4 tackles, vs Rice
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Notre Dame. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 5-star recruit to Notre Dame in 2022.
Jaylen Sneed
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. Fifth year in the Notre Dame linebacker corps, same address the whole way. The receipt: 4 tackles against Rice — Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 5 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2022
- Signed with Notre Dame5-star out of Hilton Head
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★★
CFB
College
Notre Dame
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2026
Notre Dame
Played his entire career under Marcus Freeman.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
5 seasons under Marcus Freeman — 45-11 over that span.
2022Notre Dame9-4HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-heavy
2023Notre Dame10-3HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2024Notre Dame14-2HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning
2025Notre Dame10-2HC: Marcus Freeman · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2026Notre Dame2-0HC: Marcus Freeman · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
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
Marcus Freeman
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
51 · #281 of 583 LBs
Former five-star. Now #281 at the position.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Notre Dame | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Notre Dame | 35 | 23 | 5.0 | 3.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Notre Dame | 51 | 22 | 6.0 | 2.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Notre Dame | 14 | 5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Notre Dame | 6 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 111 | 53 | 12.5 | 6.5 | 2 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 41–13
vs Wisconsin
1 TOT
Dominant 28-point win at home against Wisconsin.
With C. Carr — 239 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 81.3 · -6 rush yds (2 car) · A. Williams — 90 rush yds (20 car) · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Notre Dame
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Notre Dame
Returning around him
- 6 Notre Dame players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -9 net (7 in / 16 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Notre Dame · Last season: 10-2 (AP #9) · Talent rank #6 · 2026 recruiting class #5
DNA match
Player DNA
Sideline-to-Sideline
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Markel Perry’s 2023 season.
73%match
Matches Markel on
Tackle volume
Class year
Differs from Markel on
Sack rate (higher)
Solo tackle rate (higher)
Hurry rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Brandon Mack's senior season at Houston (2024).
76%match
Matches Brandon on
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Weight
Differs from Brandon on
Height (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Jaylen Sneed
The linebacker corps · Notre Dame
- #34Drayk Bowen67 tackles · 2025
- #4Jaiden Ausberry51 tackles · 2025
- #27Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa48 tackles · 2025
- #3Jaylen Sneed35 tackles · 2025
- #19Madden Faraimo16 tackles · 2025
6 more on the roster · Notre Dame team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology