Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 80-6vs Northwestern State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#36
Zander Hayes
Redshirt freshman linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 194 lb · Ruston, LA · Ruston HS
Returning to Louisiana Tech for 2026
The numbers
2
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Northwestern State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearZander Hayes
The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Northwestern State, Week 1, 2026.
2 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Louisiana Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Louisiana Tech1-1HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-leaning, slow 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
Sonny Cumbie
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 | Louisiana Tech | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 80–6
2 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 74-point win at home against Northwestern State.
With J. Mickens — 31 rush yds (2 car) · B. Baker — 232 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 1 rush yds (1 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Louisiana Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Louisiana Tech
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -13 net (11 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Louisiana Tech · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #124 · 2026 recruiting class #99
Background
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2026) FRESHMAN (2025) Appeared in four games, mainly seeing time on the kickoff coverage unit … Redshirted. HIGH SCHOOL Prepped at Ruston HS … Led the Bearcats to a 2023 LHSAA 5-A State Championship … Also participated in track and field … Ha...
The linebacker corps · Louisiana Tech
- #22Jadon Mayfield61 tackles · 2025
- #10Kolbe Fields39 tackles · 2025
- #21Zheric Hill32 tackles · 2025
- #23Alonzo Jackson Jr.29 tackles · 2025
- #36Zander Hayes1 game · 2026
8 more on the roster · Louisiana Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology