Penn State · L 17-31
10 tackles
The other 7 games average 6 tackles. This one was 4 above.
4 stories in the last 60 days, from 3 outlets.
Jojo Hayden
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Played for two head coaches at two programs in three seasons: Bret Bielema and Barry Odom. On tape: 10 tackles against Penn State, Week 9, 2026.
53 tackles · 0 sacks
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
53 tackles. 0 passes defended. 2 interceptions. 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 3 outlets
Purdue’s Jojo Hayden needed an opportunity — now he’s taking advantage of it
On3 Oct 21 · 1 outlet
from 4 outlets
Purdue football linebacker Jojo Hayden on transferring from Illinois
Journal & Courier +1 Aug 10 · 2 outlets
Purdue BoilermakersJojo Hayden Post Practice Interview Aug. 7 | Purdue FootballAug 7Journal & CourierPurdue linebacker Jojo Hayden on defensive improvement, Wake ForestSep 9
USA TodayWhat could JoJo Hayden have done on roughing the passer call? Purdue football explainsOct 17On3Journal & CourierEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Purdue6 stories2026 to nowMost about: in his words.
Journal & Courier +1Purdue football linebacker Jojo Hayden on transferring from IllinoisAug 10Purdue BoilermakersJojo Hayden Post Practice Interview Aug. 7 | Purdue FootballAug 7Journal & CourierPurdue linebacker Jojo Hayden on defensive improvement, Wake ForestSep 9On3GoldandBlack.com video: Purdue's Fame Ijeboi, Hudauri Hines & Jojo Hayden pre-Wake ForestSep 9USA TodayWhat could JoJo Hayden have done on roughing the passer call? Purdue football explainsOct 17
Illinois2 stories2023 to 2025Most about: awards and watch lists.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 9): 10 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
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| 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 | |
| Wk 3 | L 38-52@ UCLA | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 10-49vs No. 3 Notre Dame | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 24-17@ Illinois | 6 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 41-13vs Minnesota | 6 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | L 26-38vs Washington | 9 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | L 17-31@ Penn State | 10 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 10 tackles |
| Total | 53 | 21 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 |
Oct. 31 · L 17-31 at Penn State, play by play
10 tackles.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 2 tackles for loss, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Purdue’s defense played that day
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 interception. His interception ended Washington’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted. Third quarter, down 24-17. Ended Washington’s drive (int).
6 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception on 4th and 6 ended Minnesota’s drive (int).
Intercepted on 4th and 6. Second quarter, up 20-3. Ended Minnesota’s drive (int).
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 8 for him; the box score credits 7.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
9 tackles. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles, including 1 more for loss. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from +4 to +25 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Tackle volume
53tackles this seasonTFL rate
5%2 TFLSack rate
0%0 sacksPD rate
0%0 pass breakups53 tackles · 2.5 for loss · 2 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 7.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road3g | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 6.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Barry Odom
Pass share
50.8%
265 pass / 257 run
Plays / game
65.2
8 games
Team sack rate
6.1%
297 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2026
53 tackles in 8 games, about as many tackles a game as a typical FBS linebacker who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #104 at the position.
The No. 1,026 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the Big Ten as a junior.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 23 games over three seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Bret Bielema and Barry Odom.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Purdue
