South Carolina · L 24-27
7 tackles
The other 7 games average 5 tackles. This one was 2 above.
4 stories in the last 30 days, from 4 outlets.
Vols player TJ Metcalf breaks own Vols loss to South Carolina
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 24
TJ Metcalf
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. The four seasons span three programs and three head coaches: Sam Pittman, Biff Poggi and Josh Heupel. A game that shows it: 9 tackles against Arkansas — Week 6, 2026.
45 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
45 tackles. 0 passes defended. 1 interception. 0 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 4 outlets
Vols player TJ Metcalf breaks own Vols loss to South Carolina
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 24 · 1 outlet
from 6 outlets
Vols player TJ Metcalf breaks own Vols loss to South Carolina
WATE 6 On Your Side Oct 24 · 1 outlet
Sports IllustratedWhat TJ Metcalf Said Ahead Tennessee vs. TexasSep 21Sports IllustratedEverything Dejuan Lane, TJ Metcalf, and Tevis Metcalf Said After Tennessee Defeated AuburnOct 4
Yahoo SportsEverything Amare Campbell, TJ Metcalf said after South Carolina lossOct 24
WVLTSports IllustratedEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Tennessee9 stories2026 to nowMost about: in his words, preview and matchup, loss.
Sports IllustratedTJ Metcalf Previews Tennessee vs. Furman During Game WeekAug 31WVLT30 Days 30 Vols: TJ Metcalf got his first offer the same day his uncle passed away — now he plays for himSep 4Sports IllustratedWhat TJ Metcalf Said Ahead Tennessee vs. TexasSep 21
Knoxville News SentinelTennessee football transfer T.J. Metcalf has faced Texas, Arch Manning. What he knowsSep 22Sports IllustratedEverything Dejuan Lane, TJ Metcalf, and Tevis Metcalf Said After Tennessee Defeated AuburnOct 4
Michigan4 stories2025Most about: awards and watch lists.
Arkansas2023 to 2024not trackedStories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 8): 7 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 56-9vs Furman | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 17-20vs No. 1 Texas | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 24-14vs Auburn | 7 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 24-17@ Arkansas | 9 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 7 | W 26-10vs No. 6 Alabama | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 24-27@ South Carolina | 7 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 24 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
Oct. 24 · L 24-27 at South Carolina, play by play
7 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception ended South Carolina’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 8 for him; the box score credits 7.
Intercepted. Second quarter, down 14-7. Ended South Carolina’s drive (int).
How Tennessee’s defense played that day
South Carolina’s 10 drives: 5 stopped (1 takeaway) · 5 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 10. His interception came with Tennessee down 7.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
9 tackles.
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 6 of his 7, sacks included.
5 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
3 tackles. He hurried the quarterback once.
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
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 -14 to +21 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
0%0 pass breakupsInterceptions
1interceptionsTackle volume
45tackles this seasonTFL rate
0%0 TFL45 tackles · 1 interception.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road3g | 7.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
37.5%
207 pass / 345 run
Plays / game
69.0
8 games
Team sack rate
9.1%
242 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
45 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
2026 is in progress.
Played for three programs.
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
3 coachesPlayed for 3 head coaches at 3 schools: Sam Pittman, Sherrone Moore and Josh Heupel.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Tennessee
