Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 14-49@ Nevada | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 20-70@ Georgia | 5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#21
Jaylen Wester
Senior linebacker for Western Kentucky. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 228 lb · Palmetto, FL
CFB Index 65 · #162 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Western Kentucky 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
6
tackles · 2026
1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, at Georgia
Statement game17 tackles · 0.5 TFLat LSU (FBS) · L 10-13
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Western Kentucky. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Florida Atlantic in 2022.
- Transferred from Colorado to Western Kentucky in 2025.
Jaylen Wester
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Four head coaches in five seasons, at three different programs. The receipt: 5 tackles against Georgia — Week 2, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
3 programs, one constant: he played.
202212 games
- Signed with Florida Atlantic3-star out of Palmetto
20246 games
The snaps went the other way.
- Entered the portal
202513 games
The role got bigger.
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
3 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2026
Western Kentucky
Played his entire career under Tyson Helton.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2022Florida Atlantic5-7HC: Willie Taggart · Run-leaning
2023Florida Atlantic4-8HC: Tom Herman · Balanced
2024Colorado9-4HC: Deion Sanders · Pass-leaning
2025Western Kentucky9-4HC: Tyson Helton · Balanced
2026Western Kentucky0-2HC: Tyson Helton · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidenceBounce-Back
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: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tyson Helton
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Impact starter
Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
65 · #162 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #162 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #13 of 45 Conference USA LBs
How the All-Conference USA estimate is computed
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. 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 | Western Kentucky | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Western Kentucky | 106 | 53 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Colorado | 15 | 10 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Florida Atlantic | 55 | 33 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Florida Atlantic | 60 | 34 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 242 | 134 | 19.5 | 3.5 | 7 | 1 | -- |
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Western Kentucky
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Western Kentucky
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -4 net (19 in / 23 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Western Kentucky · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #87 · 2026 recruiting class #81
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kyle Jacob’s 2024 season.
86%match
Matches Kyle on
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Weight
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Nick Jackson's senior season at Iowa (2023).
86%match
All-Big Ten
Matches Nick on
Tackle volume
Weight
Solo tackle rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Jaylen Wester
The linebacker corps · Western Kentucky
- #21Jaylen Wester106 tackles · 2025
- #3Anthony Brackenridge74 tackles · 2025
- #9Dominic Oliver20 tackles · 2025
- #22Jordan Donald14 tackles · 2025
- #18Geajorm Akpaloo13 tackles · 2025
9 more on the roster · Western Kentucky team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology