Sophomore cornerback for Nebraska. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 200 lb · Omaha, NE · North
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.
How he plays
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
Passes defended: 97th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
interception · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 PBU, 3 tackles, vs North Dakota
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Sophomore cornerback for Nebraska. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Donovan Jones
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. He has spent three seasons in the Nebraska secondary. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles against Ohio, Week 1, 2026.
12 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Matt Rhule.
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 49-21vs Ohio | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 | |
| Wk 2 | W 56-7vs Bowling Green | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 34-7vs North Dakota | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 12 | 7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 3 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2026
W 34–7
vs North Dakota
1 sacks · 1 tackles for loss · 3 tackles
Dominant 27-point win at home against North Dakota.
With A. Colandrea — 195 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 86.6 · 19 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD · J. Rule — 119 rush yds (15 car) · 2 TD
Since week 2: +1 pass breakup, +3 tackles, +1 tackle for loss.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Matt Rhule — 17-12 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: passes defended (97th percentile). Strength: sacks (84th 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.
Defender profile · Production by role
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
25%3 pass breakupsInterceptions
1interceptionsTackle volume
12tackles this season12 tackles · 2 for loss · 1 sacks · 3 pass breakups · 1 interception.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Rhule
Pass share
42.7%
90 pass / 121 run
Plays / game
70.3
3 games
Team sack rate
3.2%
95 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #36 of 77 Big Ten DBs
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.
Play style
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,421 recruit in the country is starting in the secondary in the Big Ten as a sophomore.
Player DNA
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to JJ Dallas’s 2017 season.
Matches JJ on
Differs from JJ on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jai Eugene Jr.'s junior season at Western Kentucky (2025).
Matches Jai on
Player DNA
16 more on the roster · Nebraska team page