Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-18vs South Dakota State | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 0 tackles |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#32
Matthew Smith
Sophomore linebacker on Northwestern's 2026 roster.
6′2″ · 225 lb · Durham, NC · Hillside
Returning to Northwestern for 2026
The numbers
0
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: vs South Dakota State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker on Northwestern's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Northwestern in 2024.
Matthew Smith
Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.
0 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
His career
2024
- Signed with Northwestern3-star out of Hillside
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Northwestern
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Northwestern1-0HC: David Braun · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: qb hurries (83rd 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 1 game: 0.0 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
David Braun
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 1 game in so far.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northwestern | -- | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | -- | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 34–18
1 QB HUR
With A. Chiles — 273 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 18 rush yds (8 car) · 1 TD · J. Himon II — 87 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Northwestern
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Northwestern
Returning around him
- 2 Northwestern players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +9 net (17 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Northwestern · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #60 · 2026 recruiting class #52
Background
2025 Redshirt First-Year: Did not see game action. 2024 First-Year: Did not see game action as a true first-year. High School: Three-star prospect rated by 247Sports … As a senior, played in eight games at Hillside HS, posting 60 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, one...
The linebacker corps · Northwestern
- #37Mac Uihlein89 tackles · 2025
- #33Braydon Brus81 tackles · 2025
- #2Kobie McKinzie32 tackles · 2025
- #14Yanni Karlaftis11 tackles · 2025
- #32Matthew Smith1 game · 2026
12 more on the roster · Northwestern team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology