Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 27-21@ UNLV | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 20-38@ Boise State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#40
Trey McDonald
Senior linebacker for Memphis. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 235 lb · Chattanooga, TN · Baylor School
CFB Index 53 · #262 of 571 LBsHigh confidenceIn transfer portal — destination TBD (from Virginia)
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
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, at UNLV
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Memphis. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Virginia in 2022.
Trey McDonald
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. Across four seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Tony Elliott and Charles Huff. One game to point at: 1 tackles against Boise State — Week 2, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
4 programs, one constant: he played.
2022
- Signed with Virginia3-star out of Baylor School
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023–2025
Memphis
Coaching transition mid-career: Ryan Silverfield → Charles Huff. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
In Portal · 2026
In transfer portal
2025Virginia
DestinationTBD
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Virginia3-9HC: Tony Elliott · Run-leaning
2024Virginia5-7HC: Tony Elliott · Balanced
2025Virginia11-3HC: Tony Elliott · Balanced
2026Memphis2-1HC: Charles Huff · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
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 2 games: 1.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Charles Huff
Pass share
38.2%
66 pass / 107 run
Plays / game
57.7
3 games
Team sack rate
5.2%
77 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2024
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
53 · #262 of 571 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #262 at the position.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 27–21
at UNLV
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Sideline-to-Sideline
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
LB
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Yanni Karlaftis’s 2024 season.
Matches Yanni on
Solo tackle rate
Sack rate
TFL rate
Differs from Yanni on
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Trevor Harmanson's sophomore season at UTSA (2021).
88%match
All-Conference USA
Matches Trevor on
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Trey McDonald
The linebacker corps · Memphis
- #9Michael Montgomery106 tackles · 2025
- #33Donovan Mathena9 tackles · 2025
- #22Zach Ruffin4 tackles · 2025
- #40Trey McDonald4 tackles · 2025
- #23Jayden Parrish3 tackles · 2025
9 more on the roster · Memphis team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology