Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 80-6vs Northwestern State | 6 | 1 | 2.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 14-45@ LSU | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
#21
Zheric Hill
Sophomore linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 230 lb · Grambling, LA · Ruston HS
CFB Index 27 · #479 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Louisiana Tech for 2026
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
11
tackles · 2026
2.5 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, 1 INT, at LSU
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Louisiana Tech in 2025.
Zheric Hill
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. This is his second year in the same linebacker corps at Louisiana Tech. One game to point at: 6 tackles, 2.5 TFL against Northwestern State — Week 1, 2026.
11 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20258 games
- Signed with Louisiana Tech3-star out of Ruston
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Louisiana Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Sonny Cumbie — 9-6 over that span.
2025Louisiana Tech8-5HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-heavy
2026Louisiana Tech1-1HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: tackles for loss (91st percentile). Concern: solo tackles (16th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
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: 5.5 TKL/g, 1.2 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 · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
27 · #479 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #479 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Sun Belt
Based on 2025: #34 of 45 Conference USA LBs — his program moves to the Sun Belt for 2026
How the All-Sun Belt estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player. The base rate was measured on players who stayed in the same conference; this estimate is not adjusted for the move to the Sun Belt.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Louisiana Tech | 11 | 4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Louisiana Tech | 32 | 11 | 2.0 | 0.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 43 | 15 | 4.5 | 0.5 | -- | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 80–6
6 TOT · 1 SOLO · 2 TFL
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
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
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
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to TQ Newsome’s 2023 season.
Matches TQ on
Class year
Solo tackle rate
Differs from TQ on
Hurry rate (higher)
Height (lower)
Weight (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Jordan Thompson's freshman season at Middle Tennessee (2024).
62%match
Matches Jordan on
Tackle volume
Height
Differs from Jordan on
Hurry rate (higher)
Class year (lower)
PD rate (lower)
Background
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2026) FRESHMAN (2025) Played in 11 games with one start during his freshman campaign … Racked up 34 tackles (11 solo, 23 assists), 2.0 tackles for loss, a half sack and six quarterback hurries … Made his collegiate debut against New Mexico St...
The linebacker corps · Louisiana Tech
- #22Jadon Mayfield61 tackles · 2025
- #10Kolbe Fields39 tackles · 2025
- #21Zheric Hill32 tackles · 2025
- #23Alonzo Jackson Jr.29 tackles · 2025
- #35Cole Watson7 tackles · 2025
8 more on the roster · Louisiana Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology