Howard · W 55-0 · FCS
No tackles.
Minnesota · W 23-16
9 tackles, 1 for loss
The other 7 games average 6 tackles. This one was 3 above.
Zachman has tackles in 8 of Indiana’s 9 games: none against Howard.
“Old friend Preston Zachman!”
4 stories in the last 60 days, from 5 outlets.
Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston Zachman
Indiana University Athletics +1 Sep 15
Preston Zachman
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. Played for three head coaches at two programs in five seasons: Jim Leonhard, Luke Fickell and Curt Cignetti. The first career honor came in 2025: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. One game to point at: 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss against Minnesota — Week 9, 2026.
51 tackles · 0 sacks
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
51 tackles. 2 passes defended. 0 interceptions. 1 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 5 outlets
Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston Zachman
Indiana University Athletics +1 Sep 15 · 2 outlets
Indiana University Athletics +1Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston ZachmanSep 15
On3Players' Perspective: Lee Beebe, Turbo Richard and Preston Zachman Q&A ahead of Week 3Sep 15
247SportsIndiana saftey Preston Zachman: Week 3 Q&ASep 15from 5 outlets
Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston Zachman
Indiana University Athletics +1 Sep 15 · 2 outlets
Indiana University Athletics +1Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston ZachmanSep 15On3Players' Perspective: Lee Beebe, Turbo Richard and Preston Zachman Q&A ahead of Week 3Sep 15247SportsIndiana saftey Preston Zachman: Week 3 Q&ASep 15Indiana University Athletics +1Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Indiana4 stories2026 to nowMost about: in his words, profile and feature.
Indiana University Athletics +1Quoted: Lee Beebe Jr., Turbo Richard & Preston ZachmanSep 15On3Players' Perspective: Lee Beebe, Turbo Richard and Preston Zachman Q&A ahead of Week 3Sep 15247SportsIndiana saftey Preston Zachman: Week 3 Q&ASep 15
Yahoo SportsPreston Zachman Breaks Down Indiana Secondary and Learning New SchemeSep 15
Wisconsin2 stories2020 to 2025Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Preston Zachman vs Northwestern.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 9): 1 pass breakup, 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 52-16vs North Texas | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 38-0vs Western Kentucky | 8 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | W 29-23vs Northwestern | 9 | 7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 5 | W 47-15@ Rutgers | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 20-17@ Nebraska | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | L 15-19vs No. 4 Ohio State | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 8 | W 13-6@ Michigan | 6 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 23-16vs Minnesota | 9 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 27 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 |
Oct. 31 · W 23-16 vs Minnesota, play by play
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 10 for him; the box score credits 9.
His game this year: coverage — 2 passes defended in the 8 games with play by play.
How Indiana’s defense played that day
Minnesota’s 13 drives: 9 stopped (1 takeaway) · 4 scored. While the game was within a score they held 9 of 13. His pbu came with Indiana down 3.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 7 for him; the box score credits 6.
2 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 5 of his 6, sacks included.
9 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 7 of his 9, sacks included.
8 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 9 for him; the box score credits 8.
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Week 9 · 2026
W 23-16
vs Minnesota
1 tackle for loss · 9 tackles · 1 pass breakup
A close one, won by 7 at home.
Ratings of the games shown run from -12 to +29 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
4%2 pass breakupsTackle volume
51tackles this seasonTFL rate
2%1 TFL51 tackles · 1 for loss · 2 pass breakups.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 6.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Road3g | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 7.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Curt Cignetti
Pass share
42.5%
231 pass / 312 run
Plays / game
60.3
9 games
Team sack rate
5.4%
259 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
51 tackles in 8 games, more tackles a game than most FBS defensive backs who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #170 at the position.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 41 games over five seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2020–2026
4 coachesPlayed for 4 head coaches at 2 schools: Paul Chryst, Jim Leonhard, Luke Fickell and Curt Cignetti.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Indiana
