North Carolina · W 38-35
9 tackles, 0.5 for loss, 0 sacks
The other 7 games average 4 tackles. This one was 5 above.
“I’d like to see Dunnigan decisively defend a Hail Mary before i fully trust him”
3 stories in the last 30 days, from 2 outlets.
JJ Dunnigan
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. On tape: 9 tackles and 0.5 sacks against North Carolina, Week 9, 2026.
37 tackles · 1.5 sacks
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
37 tackles. 0 passes defended. 1 interception. 2.5 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 2 outlets
Miami Hurricanes safety JJ Dunnigan gets his flowers in latest freshman rankings
Canes Warning Oct 9 · 1 outlet
from 6 outlets
‘Freak of nature’ JJ Dunnigan filling void in Hurricanes’ depleted secondary
Sun Sentinel Sep 15 · 1 outlet
Yahoo SportsSun Sentinel
Miami HurricanesEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named JJ Dunnigan at Stanford.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Miami | 37 | 20 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
| Career | 37 | 20 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
Last game (Wk 9): 9 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-6@ Stanford | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 77-7vs Florida A&M | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 33-20@ Wake Forest | 8 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | W 52-3vs Central Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 41-13@ Clemson | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 43-35vs Florida State | 7 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | W 52-23vs Pittsburgh | 5 | 5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 38-35@ North Carolina | 9 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Total | 37 | 20 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 |
Oct. 31 · W 38-35 at North Carolina, play by play
9 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss on 3rd and 7. First quarter, up 7-0.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 2 tackles for loss, 1 of them a sack, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Miami’s defense played that day
North Carolina’s 7 drives: 2 stopped (1 takeaway) · 5 scored. While the game was within a score they held 2 of 6. His sack came with Miami up 7.
5 tackles, including 1 sack. The fumble he forced ended Pittsburgh’s drive (fumble).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 4 of his 5, sacks included.
Forced a fumble. Second quarter, up 24-7. Ended Pittsburgh’s drive (fumble).
Sacked the quarterback for a 8-yard loss on 3rd and 6. Third quarter, up 45-14.
7 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 8 for him; the box score credits 7.
A defensive touchdown: his interception went 39 yards for the score. 1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted on 4th and 7, returned 39 yards for the score. Fourth quarter, made it 41-13.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
8 tackles. He hurried the quarterback 3 times.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Week 8 · 2026
W 52-23
vs Pittsburgh
1 sack · 1 tackle for loss · 5 tackles
Dominant 29-point win at home against Pittsburgh.
Ratings of the games shown run from -17 to +12 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
0%0 pass breakupsInterceptions
1interceptionsTackle volume
37tackles this seasonTFL rate
7%2 TFL37 tackles · 2.5 for loss · 1.5 sacks · 1 interception.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home4g | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Road4g | 4.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 7.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mario Cristobal
Pass share
47.3%
259 pass / 289 run
Plays / game
68.5
8 games
Team sack rate
3.5%
285 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former four-star. Now #99 at the position.
