Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-7vs Merrimack | 5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 26-35@ Vanderbilt | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#10
Blake Matthews
Senior linebacker for Delaware. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 215 lb · Bremen, GA · Bremen
CFB Index 41 · #373 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Delaware 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
7
tackles · 2026
1 TFL · 1 sacks
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, vs Merrimack
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Delaware. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Troy in 2022.
- Transferred from Troy to Delaware in 2024.
Blake Matthews
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Across four seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Jon Sumrall and Ryan Carty. One game to point at: 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks against Merrimack — Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2022
- Signed with Troy3-star out of Bremen
2024
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2023
—
Delaware
2025–2026era →
Ryan Carty
Delaware
Played his entire career under Ryan Carty.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2022Troy12-2HC: Jon Sumrall · Run-leaning
2023Troy11-3HC: Jon Sumrall · Balanced
2025Delaware7-6HC: Ryan Carty · Pass-leaning
2026Delaware1-1HC: Ryan Carty · Pass-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (100th percentile). Strength: sacks (87th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th 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: 3.5 TKL/g, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Carty
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Part-time starter
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
41 · #373 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #373 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #28 of 45 Conference USA LBs
How the All-Conference USA 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.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 42–7
vs Merrimack
5 TOT · 0 SACKS · 0 TFL
Dominant 35-point win at home against Merrimack.
With N. Minicucci — 330 yds · 2 TD · 1 INT · QBR 79.3 · 13 rush yds (5 car) · 1 TD · J. Cupitt — 42 AVG · 2 IN 20 · 49 LONG
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Delaware
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Delaware
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +5 net (13 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Delaware · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #134 · 2026 recruiting class #115
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jaden Dolphin’s 2022 season.
Matches Jaden on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Jaden on
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Curley Young Jr.'s junior season at Jacksonville State (2024).
80%match
Matches Curley on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
PD rate
Differs from Curley on
Sack rate (lower)
Background
HONORS AND AWARDS 2025-26 Conference USA Academic Honor Roll 2025 SEASON Appeared in 12 games and made nine starts Finished the season with 54 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, four PBUs, and four QB hurries Conference USA Academic Honor Roll 2024 SEASON Appeared in all 11 games Finished the season with 1...
The linebacker corps · Delaware
- #35Gavin Moul112 tackles · 2025
- #10Blake Matthews54 tackles · 2025
- #32Marje Mulumba54 tackles · 2025
- #19Dillon Trainer30 tackles · 2025
- #9Colin Gallagher24 tackles · 2025
14 more on the roster · Delaware team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology