Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-14vs Murray State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 13 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 13 tackles |
| Total | 16 | 5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#26
Korey Smith
Junior linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 216 lb · Murfreesboro, TN · Oakland
CFB Index 37 · #403 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Middle Tennessee 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.
How he plays
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.
Tackles: 80th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
16
tackles · 2026
0.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL, at Marshall
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Oakland in 2024.
Korey Smith
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. He has spent three seasons in the Middle Tennessee linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Marshall, Week 2, 2026.
16 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2021
- Entered the portal
2024
- Recruited3-star out of Oakland
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Middle Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Middle Tennessee
Played his entire career under Derek Mason.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Derek Mason — 7-19 over that span.
2024Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning
2025Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning
2026Middle Tennessee1-1HC: Derek Mason · Pass-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: tackles (80th 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: 8.0 TKL/g, 0.2 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
Derek Mason
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #30 of 45 Conference USA LBs
How the All-Conference USA 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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 16 | 5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 38 | 19 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 58 | 24 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
3 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 24-point win at home against Murray State.
With R. Gagliano — 200 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 25 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Lacy — 8 rec · 118 yds · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Middle Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Middle Tennessee
Returning around him
- 1 Middle Tennessee player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (20 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Middle Tennessee · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #109 · 2026 recruiting class #119
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Khalil McDonald’s 2018 season.
Matches Khalil on
Tackle volume
Height
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Khalil on
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Percy Courtney Jr.'s junior season at Florida International (2024).
Matches Percy on
Weight
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Differs from Percy on
Solo tackle rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Korey Smith
Background
Honors • 2025: MTSU Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week 10/9 2025 (Sophomore) • Played in all 12 games and had five starts • Ended the year with 40 tackles to rank fifth on the team, while also adding an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery • Was in on 390 defensive snaps...
The linebacker corps · Middle Tennessee
- #26Korey Smith38 tackles · 2025
- #46Reggie Johnson35 tackles · 2025
- #31Mathias Malaki-Donaldson7 tackles · 2025
- #16Jaiyden Thompson4 tackles · 2025
- #33Malik Love1 tackle · 2025
11 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology