Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 10-15vs North Carolina | 6 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 63-7vs Grambling | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#11
Michael Short
Senior linebacker for TCU. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 235 lb · Charlotte, NC · Mallard Creek
CFB Index 12 · #550 of 571 LBsHigh confidenceTransferred Virginia Tech → TCU 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
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 tackles, vs North Carolina
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for TCU. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to North Carolina in 2023.
- Transferred from Virginia Tech to TCU in 2026.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
18.3own fans
-5rival fans
Also worth knowing:
Michael Short
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Michael Short has played for three head coaches across three seasons and three programs. The receipt: 6 tackles against North Carolina — Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with North Carolina3-star out of Mallard Creek
20255 games
- Entered the portal
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
3 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
TCU
Played his entire career under Sonny Dykes.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to TCU
2025Virginia Tech
2026TCU
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024North Carolina6-7HC: Freddie Kitchens · Run-leaning
2025Virginia Tech3-9HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning
2026TCU1-1HC: Sonny Dykes · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
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, 0.0 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
Sonny Dykes
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.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TCU | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Virginia Tech | 22 | 7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | North Carolina | 23 | 17 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 54 | 29 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 63–7
vs Grambling
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 Jack Sadowsky’s 2024 season.
72%match
Matches Jack on
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Differs from Jack on
Class year (higher)
Hurry rate (lower)
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jack Sadowsky's sophomore season at Iowa State (2024).
Matches Jack on
Solo tackle rate
Tackle volume
Height
Player DNA
Players who play like Michael Short
Background
AT VIRGINIA TECH 2025 | JUNIOR (4/1) Played in four games … recorded 22 tackles during his lone season with the Hokies … also had four TFLs … had five tackles during his Virginia Tech debut against South Carolina … posted 11 tackles in his first career start against Vanderbilt … had four tackles...
The linebacker corps · TCU
- #3Max Carroll34 tackles · 2025
- #11Michael Short22 tackles · 2025
- #27Michael Teason10 tackles · 2025
- #37Hudson Hooper4 tackles · 2025
- #41Caleb Cortezno box-score line yet
7 more on the roster · TCU team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology