6 stories in the last 60 days, from 5 outlets.
Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week
247Sports +2 Sep 7
Ta'Shawn James
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. Played for two head coaches at two programs in four seasons: Matt Campbell and Bob Chesney. One game to point at: 7 tackles against Purdue — Week 3, 2026.
41 tackles · 0.5 sacks
Play style
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
41 tackles. 2 passes defended. 4 interceptions. 0.5 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
Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week
247Sports +2 Sep 7 · 3 outlets
247Sports +2Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the WeekSep 7
UCLA BruinsTa’Shawn James Named Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the WeekSep 9UCLA BruinsTa'Shawn James Named Thorpe Award SemifinalistOct 27from 5 outlets
Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week
247Sports +2 Sep 7 · 3 outlets
247Sports +2Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the WeekSep 7UCLA BruinsTa’Shawn James Named Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the WeekSep 9UCLA BruinsTa'Shawn James Named Thorpe Award SemifinalistOct 27UCLA Bruins247Sports +2Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
UCLA6 stories2026 to nowMost about: awards and watch lists, in his words.
247Sports +2Ta'Shawn James Named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the WeekSep 7UCLA BruinsFootball Postgame - Ta'Shawn James, at CaliforniaSep 6UCLA BruinsTa’Shawn James Named Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the WeekSep 9
On3UCLA DB Ta'Shawn James talks pick-six, defense through four gamesSep 29
Iowa State1 story2023 to 2025UCLA BruinsTa'Shawn James - Football - UCLAMay 7Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | 41 | 21 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 4 |
| 2025 | Iowa State | 33 | 20 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | -- |
| 2024 | Iowa State | 41 | 20 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Iowa State | 5 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- |
| Career | 120 | 66 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 8 | 4 |
Last game (Wk 9): 5 tackles.
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 45-24@ California | 8 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | Season-high 8 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 28-10vs San Diego State | 5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | W 52-38vs Purdue | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | W 54-3@ Maryland | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Wk 6 | W 17-15@ No. 13 Oregon | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 17-7vs Wisconsin | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | W 28-10vs Michigan State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 27-0vs Nevada | 5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 41 | 21 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4 | 2 |
Oct. 31 · W 27-0 vs Nevada, play by play
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: taking the ball away — 4 interceptions in the 8 games with play by play.
How UCLA’s defense played that day
Nevada’s 11 drives: 11 stopped (4 takeaways) · 0 scored. While the game was within a score they held 3 of 3.
3 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception on 3rd and 14 ended Oregon’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted on 3rd and 14. Second quarter, up 10-6. Ended Oregon’s drive (int).
A defensive touchdown: his interception went 39 yards for the score. 4 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 5 for him; the box score credits 4.
Intercepted on 3rd and 9, returned 39 yards for the score. Third quarter, made it 27-3.
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 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.
Sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss. Third quarter, up 7-0.
A big game: 8 tackles, including 2 interceptions, tied for 2nd-most interceptions in FBS that week. His interception on 3rd and 8 ended California’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 7 of his 8, sacks included.
Intercepted on 3rd and 8. Fourth quarter, tied 24-24. Ended California’s drive (int).
Intercepted. Fourth quarter, up 31-24. Ended California’s drive (int).
Week 1 · 2026
W 45-24
at California
2 interceptions · 8 tackles · 1 hurry
Dominant 21-point win on the road against California.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -9 to +17 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
5%2 pass breakupsInterceptions
4interceptionsTackle volume
41tackles this seasonTFL rate
1%0 TFL41 tackles · 0.5 for loss · 0.5 sacks · 2 pass breakups · 4 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 4.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Road3g | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 5.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bob Chesney
Pass share
40.8%
218 pass / 316 run
Plays / game
66.8
8 games
Team sack rate
4.6%
241 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
41 tackles in 8 games, about as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Three-star recruit. Now #13 at the position.
The No. 1,293 recruit in the country is starting in the secondary in the Big Ten.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 29 games over four seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Matt Campbell and Bob Chesney.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to UCLA
