Mississippi State · W 31-3
3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
The other 7 games average 6 tackles. This one was 3 below.
“Yup Followed by Cryer I think.”
3 stories in the last 30 days, from 3 outlets.
Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. Oklahoma
Sports Illustrated +1 Oct 14
Justin Cryer
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Played for two head coaches at two programs in four seasons: Mike Norvell and Steve Sarkisian. On tape: 11 tackles against Florida, Week 7, 2026.
46 tackles · 1 sack
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
46 tackles. 4 passes defended. 1 interception. 2 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
Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. Oklahoma
Sports Illustrated +1 Oct 14 · 2 outlets
Sports Illustrated +1Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. OklahomaOct 14
On3Even on historic paces, Texas LBs Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer can't play enough for 2026 LonghornsOct 29from 8 outlets
Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. Oklahoma
Sports Illustrated +1 Oct 14 · 2 outlets
Sports IllustratedJustin Cryer Highlights Where He Shines as a Linebacker for TexasAug 26
The Daily TexanJustin Cryer brings ‘juice’ to Texas football in more ways than 1Sep 25Sports Illustrated +1Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. OklahomaOct 14On3Even on historic paces, Texas LBs Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer can't play enough for 2026 LonghornsOct 29On3Sports Illustrated +1The Daily TexanSports IllustratedEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Texas13 stories2026 to nowMost about: profile and feature, in his words, starting job and depth chart.
Sports Illustrated +1Texas LB Justin Cryer is Done Talking About the Blocked Punt vs. OklahomaOct 14On3Justin Cryer's Breakthrough Softens the Blow of Ty'Anthony Smith's DepartureAug 22Sports IllustratedJustin Cryer Is Texas' Answer to Its MIKE Linebacker QuestionAug 24Sports IllustratedJustin Cryer Highlights Where He Shines as a Linebacker for TexasAug 26
Florida State1 story2023 to 2025Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Texas | 46 | 19 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | Florida State | 43 | 15 | 5.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Florida State | 28 | 17 | 2.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 |
| 2023 | Florida State | 10 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- |
| Career | 127 | 56 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 4 | 2 |
Last game (Wk 9): 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Texas State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 24-23vs No. 1 Ohio State | 9 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | W 30-6vs UTSA | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | W 20-17@ No. 14 Tennessee | 9 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 6 | L 24-27vs Oklahoma | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | L 24-27vs Florida | 11 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 11 tackles |
| Wk 8 | W 34-27vs No. 7 Ole Miss | 5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Wk 9 | W 31-3vs Mississippi State | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 46 | 19 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 4 |
Oct. 31 · W 31-3 vs Mississippi State, play by play
3 tackles, including 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 4 for him; the box score credits 3.
His game this year: coverage — 4 passes defended in the 8 games with play by play.
How Texas’s defense played that day
Mississippi State’s 10 drives: 9 stopped · 1 scored. While the game was within a score they held 3 of 3.
5 tackles, including 1 interception, 1 pass broken up. His interception ended Ole Miss’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 6 for him; the box score credits 5.
Intercepted. First quarter, tied 3-3. Ended Ole Miss’s drive (int).
11 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.
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
9 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.
2 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.
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 pass broken up. He hurried the quarterback twice.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
3 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Week 2 · 2026
W 24-23
vs Ohio State
1 tackle for loss · 9 tackles · 1 pass breakup
A close one, won by 1 at home.
Ratings of the games shown run from +2 to +29 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Tackle volume
46tackles this seasonTFL rate
4%2 TFLSack rate
2%1 sackPD rate
9%4 pass breakups46 tackles · 2 for loss · 1 sack · 1 interception.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home6g | 5.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Road1g | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 6.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Steve Sarkisian
Pass share
43.5%
226 pass / 293 run
Plays / game
64.9
8 games
Team sack rate
9.1%
263 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS linebacker who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #83 at the position.
The No. 1,014 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the SEC.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 32 games over four seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Mike Norvell and Steve Sarkisian.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Texas
