Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 52-16vs North Texas | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 55-0vs Howard | 4 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#34
Jeff Utzinger
Redshirt senior linebacker for Indiana. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 232 lb · Carmel, IN · Cathedral
CFB Index 3 · #582 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Indiana 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
0.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Howard
His career numbers, season by seasonJeff Utzinger
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. He has spent three seasons in the Indiana linebacker corps. The receipt: 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Howard — Week 2, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Indiana
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Indiana
Played his entire career under Curt Cignetti.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Curt Cignetti — 29-2 over that span.
2024Indiana11-2HC: Curt Cignetti · Run-leaning
2025Indiana16-0HC: Curt Cignetti · Run-heavy
2026Indiana2-0HC: Curt Cignetti · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (83rd percentile). 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, 0.2 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
Curt Cignetti
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Backup
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
3 · #582 of 583 LBs
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #72 of 72 Big Ten LBs
How the All-Big Ten estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. 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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 55–0
vs Howard
4 TOT · 3 SOLO · 0 TFL
Dominant 55-point win at home against Howard.
With J. Hoover — 145 yds · 4 TD · 0 INT · QBR 75.5 · 18 rush yds (6 car) · T. Richard — 108 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Indiana
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Indiana
Returning around him
- 8 Indiana players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (17 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Indiana · Last season: 16-0 (AP #1) · Talent rank #38 · 2026 recruiting class #29
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kalib Perry’s 2023 season.
Matches Kalib on
TFL rate
Weight
Tackle volume
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jayden Childers's sophomore season at Western Michigan (2024).
Matches Jayden on
Class year
Height
Weight
Differs from Jayden on
Hurry rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Jeff Utzinger
Background
Career Notes & Records Appeared in 29 career games ... Made collegiate debut against FIU (8/31) in the 2204 season opener and made first career tackle ... Added to scholarship during the offseason in 2025. 2025 (Redshirt-Junior Season) Season: Appeared in all 16 games. Old Dominion (8/30): Saw ac...
The linebacker corps · Indiana
- #5Rolijah Hardy103 tackles · 2025
- #46Isaiah Jones78 tackles · 2025
- #34Jeff Utzinger16 tackles · 2025
- #14Kaiden Turner10 tackles · 2025
- #52Clayton Allenno box-score line yet
6 more on the roster · Indiana team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology