Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 31-10vs Norfolk State | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 21-44@ Virginia Tech | 11 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 11 tackles |
| Total | 19 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
MT
Mario Thompson
Junior linebacker for Old Dominion. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 210 lb · Richmond, VA · Trinity Episcopal
CFB Index 77 · #77 of 571 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Old Dominion 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.
QB hurries: 96th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
19
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL, at Virginia Tech
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Old Dominion. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Old Dominion in 2023.
Mario Thompson
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Old Dominion. The receipt: 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Virginia Tech — Week 2, 2026.
19 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
202310 games
- Signed with Old Dominion3-star out of Trinity Episcopal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Old Dominion
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Old Dominion
Played his entire career under Ricky Rahne.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Ricky Rahne — 22-18 over that span.
2023Old Dominion6-7HC: Ricky Rahne · Run-leaning
2024Old Dominion5-7HC: Ricky Rahne · Run-leaning
2025Old Dominion10-3HC: Ricky Rahne · Run-heavy
2026Old Dominion1-1HC: Ricky Rahne · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (96th percentile). Strength: tackles (90th percentile). Concern: solo tackles (3rd 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: 9.5 TKL/g, 0.5 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
Ricky Rahne
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.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Old Dominion | 19 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Old Dominion | 9 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Old Dominion | 66 | 29 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Old Dominion | 43 | 18 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 137 | 53 | 16.5 | 6.5 | 4 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 31–10
8 TOT · 0 TFL · 2 QB HUR
Dominant 21-point win at home against Norfolk State.
With Q. Henicle — 137 yds · 2 TD · 1 INT · 68 rush yds (13 car) · 2 TD · I. Brandt — 45 AVG · 46 LONG · 2 NO
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Old Dominion
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Old Dominion
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -7 net (15 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Old Dominion · Last season: 10-3 · Talent rank #122 · 2026 recruiting class #96
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Devontre'a Tyler’s 2016 season.
71%match
Matches Devontre'a on
PD rate
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Differs from Devontre'a on
Height (lower)
Solo tackle rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Ben Bolton's senior season at Tennessee (2025).
Matches Ben on
Tackle volume
Hurry rate
Weight
Differs from Ben on
Height (lower)
TFL rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Mario Thompson
The linebacker corps · Old Dominion
- #4Jeremy Mack Jr.75 tackles · 2025
- #38Seth Naotala64 tackles · 2025
- #18Jackson Forrest52 tackles · 2025
- #13Jed Olotu-Judah14 tackles · 2025
- Mario Thompson9 tackles · 2025
14 more on the roster · Old Dominion team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology