Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 13-41@ Notre Dame | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 36-9vs Western Illinois | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#51
Michael Garner
Senior linebacker for Wisconsin. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′7″ · 309 lb · Chicago Heights, IL
Returning to Wisconsin for 2026
The numbers
5
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 tackles, vs Notre Dame
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Wisconsin. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Grambling in 2023.
Michael Garner
He has spent two seasons in the Wisconsin linebacker corps. The receipt: 4 tackles against Notre Dame — Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with Grambling3-star out of Bloom
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Wisconsin
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Luke Fickell — 5-9 over that span.
2025Wisconsin4-8HC: Luke Fickell · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Wisconsin1-1HC: Luke Fickell · 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 2 games: 2.5 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
Luke Fickell
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 36–9
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Wisconsin
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Wisconsin
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +8 net (33 in / 25 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Wisconsin · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #30 · 2026 recruiting class #78
The linebacker corps · Wisconsin
- #8Mason Posa57 tackles · 2025
- #44Cooper Catalano56 tackles · 2025
- Justus Boone28 tackles · 2025
- #15Sebastian Cheeks24 tackles · 2025
- #51Michael Garner2 tackles · 2025
17 more on the roster · Wisconsin team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology