Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 17-3vs Tulane | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 31-27@ Illinois | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#34
Luke Mergott
Junior linebacker for Duke. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 225 lb · Berlin, MD · Stephen Decatur
CFB Index 82 · #49 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Duke 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
9
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 tackles, vs Tulane
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Duke. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Duke in 2023.
Luke Mergott
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Luke Mergott has been at Duke through two head coaches in four seasons. The receipt: 6 tackles against Tulane — Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2023
- Signed with Duke3-star out of Stephen Decatur
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Duke
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023
Trooper Taylor
Duke
Coaching transition mid-career: Trooper Taylor → Manny Diaz. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Duke8-5HC: Trooper Taylor · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2024Duke9-4HC: Manny Diaz · Pass-leaning
2025Duke9-5HC: Manny Diaz · Balanced
2026Duke2-0HC: Manny Diaz · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidenceBreakout
Elite: qb hurries (96th 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: 4.5 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
Manny Diaz
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Starter
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
82 · #49 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #49 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #6 of 74 ACC LBs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. 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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 31–27
at Illinois
3 TOT · 2 SOLO
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 4 on the road.
With W. Eget — 206 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 75.9 · -2 rush yds (1 car) · N. Sheppard — 147 rush yds (24 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Duke
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Duke
Returning around him
- 3 Duke players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (19 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Duke · Last season: 9-5 · Talent rank #69 · 2026 recruiting class #71
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Charles Correa’s 2025 season.
77%match
Matches Charles on
TFL rate
Solo tackle rate
Sack rate
Differs from Charles on
Hurry rate (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Owen Chambliss's junior season at San Diego State (2025).
74%match
All-Mountain West
Matches Owen on
TFL rate
PD rate
Sack rate
Differs from Owen on
Solo tackle rate (lower)
Hurry rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Luke Mergott
Background
2026 ACCOLADES Third Team Preseason All-ACC (PFN) Fourth Team Preseason All-ACC (Athlon) Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Butkus Award Watch List Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1,000 2026: Returning starting linebacker … two-time Academic All-ACC selection (2024-25) … one of five returning stude...
The linebacker corps · Duke
- #34Luke Mergott91 tackles · 2025
- #42Kendall Johnson37 tackles · 2025
- #7Nick Morris Jr.18 tackles · 2025
- #31Elliott Schaper16 tackles · 2025
- #24Bradley Gompers14 tackles · 2025
6 more on the roster · Duke team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology