Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 43-8vs Southern Miss | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#51
Michael Matthews-Canty
Junior linebacker for Auburn. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 235 lb · Fredericksburg, VA · St. Michael the Archangel
Returning to Auburn for 2026
The numbers
2
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Southern Miss
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Auburn. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Hampton in 2024.
Michael Matthews-Canty
The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Southern Miss, Week 2, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Hampton3-star out of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Auburn
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Auburn2-0HC: Alex Golesh · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
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: 2.0 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
Alex Golesh
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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Auburn | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Auburn
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Auburn
Returning around him
- 5 Auburn players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (39 in / 39 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Auburn · Last season: 5-7 (AP #22) · Talent rank #18 · 2026 recruiting class #31
The linebacker corps · Auburn
- #17Xavier Atkins84 tackles · 2025
- #9Elijah Melendez30 tackles · 2025
- #6Demarcus Riddick13 tackles · 2025
- #16Bryce Deas12 tackles · 2025
- #51Michael Matthews-Canty1 game · 2026
5 more on the roster · Auburn team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology