Senior linebacker for Northwestern. 2025: 11 tackles.
6′3″ · 235 lb · West Lafayette, IN
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 story
4 linebacker for Northwestern. 2025: 11 tackles.
Yanni Karlaftis
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Across five seasons and two programs, three head coaches: Jeff Brohm, Ryan Walters and David Braun. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles against Tulane, Week 1, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was on the field for 5 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
The role got bigger.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2021–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Pat Fitzgerald → David Braun. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (6th percentile).
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 · Per-game
2025 season · 4 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road1g | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-74g | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
David Braun
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 1 game in so far.
Player standing · 2024
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Former four-star. Now #389 at the position.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Northwestern | 11 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Purdue | 57 | 33 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Purdue | 55 | 28 | 2.5 | 2.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Purdue | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2021 | Purdue | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 131 | 73 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4 | -- | -- |
Game log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 4 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 3-23@ Tulane | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 42-7vs Western Illinois | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | L 14-34vs Oregon | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 17-14vs UCLA | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Northwestern
2026 Depth chart
Returning starter
Linebacker · Northwestern
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Northwestern · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #60 · 2026 recruiting class #52
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Trey McDonald’s 2024 season.
Matches Trey on
Differs from Trey on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Kalib Perry's senior season at Louisville (2025).
Matches Kalib on
Player DNA
12 more on the roster · Northwestern team page