South Carolina · L 24-27
8 tackles
The other 7 games average 4 tackles. This one was 4 above.
7 stories in the last 30 days, from 6 outlets.
Dejuan Lane on the mentality of the Tennessee defense: ‘Teams have to stop us’
Rocky Top Talk +1 Oct 21
Dejuan Lane
Moves between deep coverage and the slot. The three seasons span two programs and three head coaches: James Franklin, Terry Smith and Josh Heupel. One game to point at: 8 tackles against South Carolina — Week 8, 2026.
36 tackles · 2 sacks
Play style
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
36 tackles. 4 passes defended. 3 interceptions. 5 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 6 outlets
Dejuan Lane on the mentality of the Tennessee defense: ‘Teams have to stop us’
Rocky Top Talk +1 Oct 21 · 2 outlets
from 8 outlets
Dejuan Lane on the mentality of the Tennessee defense: ‘Teams have to stop us’
Rocky Top Talk +1 Oct 21 · 2 outlets
Sports Illustrated +1Vols Defensive Back Dejuan Lane discusses Tennessee’s win against Georgia TechSep 13Sports IllustratedEverything Dejuan Lane, TJ Metcalf, and Tevis Metcalf Said After Tennessee Defeated AuburnOct 4
Rocky Top InsiderTennessee Football Safety Dejuan Lane Drops Incredible Quote in Postgame Press ConferenceOct 4Rocky Top Talk +1
Saturday Down SouthEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Tennessee13 stories2026 to nowMost about: in his words, awards and watch lists.
Sports Illustrated +1Vols Defensive Back Dejuan Lane discusses Tennessee’s win against Georgia TechSep 13Rocky Top Talk +1Dejuan Lane on the mentality of the Tennessee defense: ‘Teams have to stop us’Oct 21
On3Why Tennessee has confidence in Dejuan Lane at safety after Edrees Farooq injuryAug 18
Knoxville News Sentinel5 transfer portal additions that will define Tennessee football, including Dejuan LaneAug 26Sports IllustratedEverything Dejuan Lane, TJ Metcalf, and Tevis Metcalf Said After Tennessee Defeated AuburnOct 4
Penn State2024 to 2025not trackedStories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Rocky Top InsiderOct 21Knoxville News SentinelOct 21Sports IllustratedOct 21Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tennessee | 36 | 24 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 4 | 3 |
| 2025 | Penn State | 29 | 23 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Penn State | 15 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 |
| Career | 80 | 56 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 8 | 4 |
Last game (Wk 8): 8 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | L 17-20vs No. 1 Texas | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 24-14vs Auburn | 9 | 6 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 6 | W 24-17@ Arkansas | 6 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 7 | W 26-10vs No. 6 Alabama | 5 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Wk 8 | L 24-27@ South Carolina | 8 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 36 | 24 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 3 | 4 |
Oct. 24 · L 24-27 at South Carolina, play by play
8 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 5 tackles for loss, 2 of them sacks, in the 8 games with play by play.
How Tennessee’s defense played that day
South Carolina’s 10 drives: 5 stopped (1 takeaway) · 5 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 10.
5 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 interception, 1 pass broken up. His interception on 3rd and 10 ended Alabama’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted on 3rd and 10. First quarter, up 9-0. Ended Alabama’s drive (int).
6 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 7 for him; the box score credits 6.
9 tackles, including 2 sacks, 1 interception, tied for 5th-most sacks in FBS that week. His interception ended Auburn’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted. Third quarter, up 10-7. Ended Auburn’s drive (int).
Sacked the quarterback for a 8-yard loss on 3rd and 11. Third quarter, up 17-7.
3 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 2 for him; the box score credits 1.
A defensive touchdown: his interception went 41 yards for the score. 3 tackles, including 2 passes broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted, returned 41 yards for the score. Second quarter, made it 17-10.
Broke up a pass on 4th and 14. Fourth quarter, up 31-17. Ended Georgia Tech’s drive (downs).
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -14 to +21 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
11%4 pass breakupsInterceptions
3interceptionsTackle volume
36tackles this seasonTFL rate
14%5 TFL36 tackles · 5 for loss · 2 sacks · 4 pass breakups · 3 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Road3g | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
37.5%
207 pass / 345 run
Plays / game
69.0
8 games
Team sack rate
9.1%
242 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former four-star. Now #6 at the position.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 26 games over three seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
3 coachesPlayed for 3 head coaches at 2 schools: James Franklin, Terry Smith and Josh Heupel.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Tennessee
