Senior linebacker for Michigan State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 244 lb · Centreville, VA · Avalon School
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
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, at Notre Dame
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Michigan State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Caleb Wheatland
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Three head coaches in five seasons, at three different programs. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Eastern Michigan, Week 2, 2026.
8 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
6 programs, one constant: he played.
The snaps went the other way.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Mel Tucker, Jonathan Smith, and Pat Fitzgerald. Multi-era developmental context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Michigan State
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State | 8 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Auburn | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Maryland | 42 | 24 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Maryland | 41 | 23 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Maryland | 16 | 13 | 2.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 108 | 65 | 15.0 | 7.5 | 3 | -- | -- |
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 30-20vs Toledo | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-7vs Eastern Michigan | 4 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 3 | L 10-27@ Notre Dame | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 30–20
vs Toledo
1 tackles · 1 solo tackles
With A. Milivojevic — 247 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 87.3 · -5 rush yds (6 car) · C. Mccray — 4 rush yds (1 car)
Since week 2: +3 tackles.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th 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
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road1g | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald
Pass share
39.4%
78 pass / 120 run
Plays / game
66.0
3 games
Team sack rate
10.1%
89 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2024
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Three-star recruit. Now #148 at the position.
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Dee Winters’s 2022 season.
Matches Dee on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jesiah Pierre's junior season at Texas Tech (2022).
Matches Jesiah on
Differs from Jesiah on
Player DNA
Experienced fifth-year senior linebacker has played in 38 collegiate games during his career . . . played in 35 games at Maryland from 2022-24 . . . played in three games at Auburn in 2025 to preserve redshirt season . . . has recorded 101 tackles, including 14.5 TFLs (71 yards) and 7.5 sacks…
4 more on the roster · Michigan State team page