Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 49-3vs Alcorn State | 7 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 8-43@ Auburn | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#42
Melvin Spriggs
Junior linebacker for Akron. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 220 lb · Landstuhl, VA
CFB Index 51 · #279 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceTransferred Akron 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
1.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Alcorn State
Statement game14 tackles · 3.5 TFL · 2.5 sacksat Buffalo (FBS) · W 24-16
Top 1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Akron. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Akron in 2023.
- Transferred from Akron to Southern Miss in 2026.
Melvin Spriggs
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. 2025 brought the first one: MAC Defensive Player of the Week. The receipt: 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Alcorn State — Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
2023
- Signed with Akronout of St. Michael The Archangel
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Akron
Played his entire career under Joe Moorhead.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Akron
2025Akron
2026Akron
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Akron4-8HC: Joe Moorhead · Pass-leaning
2025Akron5-7HC: Joe Moorhead · Balanced
2026Southern Miss1-1HC: Blake Anderson · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidenceBreakout
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, 0.8 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
Joe Moorhead
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
51 · #279 of 583 LBs
Unranked recruit. Now #279 at the position.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Southern Miss | 9 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Akron | 45 | 21 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Akron | 18 | 9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 72 | 36 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Blake Fletcher’s 2024 season.
Matches Blake on
PD rate
Tackle volume
Class year
Differs from Blake on
Solo tackle rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Bradley Shaw's sophomore season at Arkansas (2025).
Matches Bradley on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Sack rate
Differs from Bradley on
Hurry rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Melvin Spriggs
The linebacker corps · Southern Miss
- #53Joseph Harper50 tackles · 2025
- #42Melvin Spriggs45 tackles · 2025
- #13Mathis Haygood44 tackles · 2025
- #33Avery Sledge15 tackles · 2025
- #32Peyton Anderson1 tackle · 2025
9 more on the roster · Southern Miss team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology