Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 26-42@ USC | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#97
John Norwood
Senior linebacker for San José State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 220 lb · Milpitas, CA · Milpitas HS
Returning to San José State for 2026
The numbers
1
tackle · 2026
1 TFL · 1 sacks
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, at USC
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for San José State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearJohn Norwood
John Norwood has been at San José State through two head coaches in four seasons. The receipt: 1 tackles, 1 sacks against USC — Week 1, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
San José State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023
San José State
Coaching transition mid-career: Brent Brennan → Ken Niumatalolo. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023San José State7-6HC: Brent Brennan · Balanced, slow tempo
2024San José State7-6HC: Ken Niumatalolo · Pass-heavy
2025San José State3-9HC: Ken Niumatalolo · Pass-leaning
2026San José State2-1HC: Ken Niumatalolo · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: sacks (87th 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 1 game: 1.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 1.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ken Niumatalolo
Pass share
51.0%
106 pass / 102 run
Plays / game
69.3
3 games
Team sack rate
1.8%
110 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | San José State | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | San José State | 4 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | San José State | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | San José State | 6 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 16 | 11 | 3.0 | 2.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
San José State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · San José State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +1 net (17 in / 16 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
San José State · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #110 · 2026 recruiting class #129
The linebacker corps · San José State
- #6Ethan Powell37 tackles · 2025
- #4Dylan Lee7 tackles · 2025
- #97John Norwood4 tackles · 2025
- #19Cayden Woolwine1 tackle · 2025
- #7Aizik Mahuka2 games · 2026
11 more on the roster · San José State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology