Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 44-19vs Indiana State | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 36-38vs Wake Forest | 9 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Total | 14 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#30
Jojo Hayden
Junior linebacker for Purdue. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 245 lb · East St. Louis, IL
CFB Index 16 · #547 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceTransferred Illinois → Purdue 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
14
tackles · 2026
1.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Wake Forest
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Purdue. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Illinois in 2023.
- Transferred from Illinois to Purdue in 2026.
Jojo Hayden
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. The receipt on tape: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Wake Forest, Week 2, 2026.
14 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with Illinois3-star out of East St. Louis
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024
Ryan Walters
Purdue
Coaching transition mid-career: Ryan Walters → Barry Odom. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Purdue
2025Illinois
2026Purdue
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Illinois10-3HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning
2026Purdue1-1HC: Barry Odom · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (96th 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: 7.0 TKL/g, 0.8 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
Barry Odom
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
16 · #547 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #547 at the position.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 44–19
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Colin Gallagher’s 2025 season.
Matches Colin on
Hurry rate
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Colin on
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Miquel Dingle's sophomore season at Texas Tech (2024).
Matches Miquel on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Jojo Hayden
The linebacker corps · Purdue
- #5Charles Correa77 tackles · 2025
- Jojo Hayden25 tackles · 2025
- #25Hudson Miller9 tackles · 2025
- #16Anthony Speca6 tackles · 2025
- #20Winston Berglund6 tackles · 2025
5 more on the roster · Purdue team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology