Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 63-7vs Utah Tech | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#54
Siale Esera
Junior linebacker for BYU. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 250 lb · Provo, UT
CFB Index 39 · #386 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to BYU 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
2
tackles · 2026
1 TFL · 1 sacks
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, vs Utah Tech
Statement game16 tackles · 0.5 TFLat Arizona (FBS) · W 33-27
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for BYU. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to BYU in 2023.
Siale Esera
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. He has spent four seasons in the BYU linebacker corps. One game to point at: 2 tackles, 1 sacks against Utah Tech — Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20235 games
- Signed with BYU4-star out of Timpview
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
BYU
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Played his entire career under Kalani Sitake.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Kalani Sitake — 30-11 over that span.
2023BYU5-7HC: Kalani Sitake · Balanced
2024BYU11-2HC: Kalani Sitake · Run-leaning
2025BYU12-2HC: Kalani Sitake · Run-leaning
2026BYU2-0HC: Kalani Sitake · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: sacks (87th 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 1 game: 2.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 1.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kalani Sitake
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
39 · #386 of 583 LBs
Former four-star. Now #386 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #49 of 73 Big 12 LBs
- #1David Bailey
- #48Bryan McCoy
- #49Siale Esera
- #50Taje McCoy
How the All-Big 12 estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
BYU
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · BYU
Returning around him
- 2 BYU players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (9 in / 14 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
BYU · Last season: 12-2 (AP #12) · Talent rank #59 · 2026 recruiting class #21
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Derion Gullette’s 2025 season.
82%match
Matches Derion on
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Sack rate
Differs from Derion on
Hurry rate (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jaiden Ausberry's junior season at Notre Dame (2025).
80%match
Matches Jaiden on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
PD rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Siale Esera
The linebacker corps · BYU
- #4Cade Uluave97 tackles · 2025
- #16Isaiah Glasker63 tackles · 2025
- #54Siale Esera44 tackles · 2025
- #21Miles Hall18 tackles · 2025
- #18Ace Kaufusi16 tackles · 2025
11 more on the roster · BYU team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology