Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 10-51@ LSU | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#21
Kobe McCloud
Senior linebacker for Clemson. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 225 lb · Tampa, FL · Gaither HS
CFB Index 38 · #394 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Clemson 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
4
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, at LSU
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Clemson. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Clemson in 2022.
Kobe McCloud
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Fourth year in the Clemson linebacker corps, same address the whole way. The receipt: 4 tackles against LSU — Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2022
- Signed with Clemson3-star out of Gaither
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Clemson
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Clemson
Played his entire career under Dabo Swinney.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Dabo Swinney — 27-15 over that span.
2023Clemson9-4HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced, fast tempo
2024Clemson10-4HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced
2025Clemson7-6HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced
2026Clemson1-1HC: Dabo Swinney · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
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 1 game: 4.0 TKL/g, 0.0 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
Dabo Swinney
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
38 · #394 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #394 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #55 of 74 ACC LBs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Clemson
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Clemson
Returning around him
- 9 Clemson players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (11 in / 15 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Clemson · Last season: 7-6 (AP #12) · Talent rank #16 · 2026 recruiting class #20
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jalen Stewart’s 2022 season.
56%match
Matches Jalen on
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Differs from Jalen on
PD rate (higher)
Sack rate (lower)
Height (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jayvon Henderson's junior season at South Alabama (2025).
Matches Jayvon on
Solo tackle rate
PD rate
Height
Differs from Jayvon on
Weight (higher)
Sack rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Kobe McCloud
The linebacker corps · Clemson
- #47Sammy Brown107 tackles · 2025
- #7Jeremiah Alexander36 tackles · 2025
- #21Kobe McCloud26 tackles · 2025
- #50Fletcher Cothran9 tackles · 2025
- #53Joseph Roberto II2 tackles · 2025
7 more on the roster · Clemson team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology