2026 games, tackles for loss per game. W and L: the team’s results.
Joshua Mickens
Wins the corner before the tackle can set. Played for two head coaches at two programs in three seasons: Ryan Day and Jason Candle. On tape: 5 tackles against Air Force, Week 9, 2026.
16 tackles · 3 sacks
Play style
Bends the edge and wins with first-step quickness. Lighter frame, relentless motor.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
No outlet on our list has written about this player by name this season.
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| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UConn | 16 | 6 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2 |
| 2025 | Ohio State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- |
| Career | 22 | 9 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 2 |
Last game (Wk 9): 5 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 7 games
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| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-7vs Lafayette | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | W 48-20@ Southern Miss | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 21-24@ Miami (OH) | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | L 41-42vs Syracuse | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 34-20@ Temple | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | W 35-16vs Massachusetts | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | L 26-35@ Air Force | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 3.5 | 3.0 | — | 2 |
Oct. 31 · L 26-35 at Air Force, play by play
5 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 3 tackles for loss, 3 of them sacks, in the 7 games with play by play.
How UConn’s defense played that day
Air Force’s 9 drives: 4 stopped · 5 scored. While the game was within a score they held 3 of 8. His pbu came with UConn down 8.
2 tackles, including 1 sack.
Sacked the quarterback for a 9-yard loss on 3rd and 5. Second quarter, up 7-3.
2 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. Second quarter, tied 14-14.
3 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.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
2 tackles, including 1 sack. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 3-yard loss. Fourth quarter, up 48-13.
1 tackle, including 1 pass broken up.
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 -16 to -1 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Sack rate
19%3 sacksTFL rate
22%4 TFLHurry rate
12%2 hurriesPressure-to-sack conversion
60%3 of 5 pressures16 tackles · 3.5 for loss · 3 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 7 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Road4g | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Jason Candle
Pass share
44.1%
226 pass / 286 run
Plays / game
64.0
8 games
Team sack rate
9.1%
274 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Fewer tackles a game than most FBS defensive linemen who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former four-star. Now #186 at the position.
2026 is in progress.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Ryan Day and Jason Candle.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to UConn
