Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 14-49@ Nevada | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#32
Westen Ard
Freshman linebacker for Western Kentucky. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 235 lb · Warner Robins, GA · Houston County HS
Returning to Western Kentucky for 2026
The numbers
2
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, at Nevada
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Western Kentucky. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Western Kentucky in 2026.
Westen Ard
The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Nevada, Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with Western Kentucky3-star out of Houston County
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Western Kentucky
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Western Kentucky0-2HC: Tyson Helton · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
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, 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
Tyson Helton
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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Western Kentucky | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Western Kentucky
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Western Kentucky
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -4 net (19 in / 23 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Western Kentucky · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #87 · 2026 recruiting class #81
Background
HS/Misc.: Ard prepped at Houston County High School in Georgia, where he was considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. He was ranked the No. 61 player at his position by ESPN. Ard was a two-way player at Houston County but joined the Hilltoppers as a linebacker. Offensively...
The linebacker corps · Western Kentucky
- #21Jaylen Wester106 tackles · 2025
- #3Anthony Brackenridge74 tackles · 2025
- #9Dominic Oliver20 tackles · 2025
- #22Jordan Donald14 tackles · 2025
- #32Westen Ard1 game · 2026
9 more on the roster · Western Kentucky team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology