Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 20-13vs Liberty | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 87-3vs Wagner | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#15
JT Hooten
3rd-year linebacker for James Madison. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 220 lb · Daleville, AL · Enterprise
Returning to James Madison for 2026
The numbers
7
tackles · 2026
2 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Wagner
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for James Madison. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearJT Hooten
The receipt: 4 tackles, 1 TFL against Liberty — Week 1, 2026.
7 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
James Madison
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026James Madison2-0HC: Billy Napier · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: tackles for loss (85th 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 2 games: 3.5 TKL/g, 1.0 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
Billy Napier
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | James Madison | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 7 | 5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 87–3
vs Wagner
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
James Madison
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · James Madison
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +6 net (37 in / 31 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
James Madison · Last season: 12-2 (AP #19) · Talent rank #101 · 2026 recruiting class #80
Background
2025 at West Alabama: First Team All-Gulf South Conference linebacker Started all nine games at linebacker Had 69 tackles (24 solo) to go with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery Season-high 17 tackles with a TFL vs. Charleston (Sept. 13), earning GSC Defensive Player of the We...
The linebacker corps · James Madison
- #2Nakian Jackson51 tackles · 2025
- #3Gannon Weathersby50 tackles · 2025
- #26Jayden Studio8 tackles · 2025
- #45Lee Johnson2 tackles · 2025
- #15JT Hooten2 games · 2026
3 more on the roster · James Madison team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology