Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 36-9vs Western Illinois | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 |
#19
Thomas Heiberger
Sophomore linebacker for Wisconsin. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 230 lb · Sioux Falls, SD · Jefferson
Returning to Wisconsin for 2026
The numbers
3
tackles · 2026
1 TFL · 2 PBU
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Western Illinois
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Wisconsin. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Wisconsin in 2024.
Thomas Heiberger
Third year in the Wisconsin linebacker corps, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles, 1 TFL against Western Illinois, Week 2, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Wisconsin4-star out of Jefferson
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Wisconsin
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Wisconsin
Played his entire career under Luke Fickell.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Luke Fickell — 10-16 over that span.
2024Wisconsin5-7HC: Luke Fickell · Run-leaning
2025Wisconsin4-8HC: Luke Fickell · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Wisconsin1-1HC: Luke Fickell · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: passes defended (94th 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: 3.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 2.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Luke Fickell
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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 36–9
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Wisconsin
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Wisconsin
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +8 net (33 in / 25 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Wisconsin · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #30 · 2026 recruiting class #78
Background
Honors and Awards 2025: Academic All-Big Ten 2025 Season: Played in 11 games, making three starts at linebacker … made seven tackles on the year, finishing the season out by making tackles in five straight games … played 95 defensive snaps … posted first career tackle at Oregon (Oct. 25) … tallie...
The linebacker corps · Wisconsin
- #8Mason Posa57 tackles · 2025
- #44Cooper Catalano56 tackles · 2025
- Justus Boone28 tackles · 2025
- #15Sebastian Cheeks24 tackles · 2025
- #19Thomas Heiberger7 tackles · 2025
17 more on the roster · Wisconsin team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology