Sophomore linebacker for Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 225 lb · Nashville, TN · Lipscomb Academy
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: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, vs Furman
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Sophomore linebacker for Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Edwin Spillman
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. This is his third year in the same linebacker corps at Tennessee. The receipt on tape: 5 tackles against Kennesaw State, Week 3, 2026.
12 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was on the field for 3 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Josh Heupel.
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 56-9vs Furman | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 12 | 7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 2 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–9
vs Furman
1 sacks · 1 tackles for loss · 2 tackles
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · M. Matthews — 4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +1 pass breakup.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Josh Heupel — 21-8 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: passes defended (92nd 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.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Road1g | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
35.9%
74 pass / 132 run
Plays / game
68.7
3 games
Team sack rate
5.0%
80 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2025
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Former four-star. Now #101 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #16 of 76 SEC LBs
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. 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
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,453 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the SEC as a sophomore.
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Chris Paul Jr.’s 2023 season.
Matches Chris on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Isaiah Chisom's sophomore season at Oregon State (2024).
Matches Isaiah on
Differs from Isaiah on
Player DNA
CAREER HONORS 2026 Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List 2026 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee 2025 The Athletic Freshman All-America Second Team 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team (Coaches) 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2024-25 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Physical and athletic…
6 more on the roster · Tennessee team page