Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 17-16vs Baylor | 12 | 7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 2 | Season-high 12 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 43-8vs Southern Miss | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 18 | 9 | 3.0 | 1.0 | — | 3 |
#9
Elijah Melendez
Sophomore linebacker for Auburn. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 240 lb · Kissimmee, FL · Osceola
CFB Index 53 · #265 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Auburn 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.
How he plays
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
Passes defended: 99th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
18
tackles · 2026
3 TFL · 1 sacks · 3 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL, vs Baylor
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Auburn. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Auburn in 2025.
In Their Words
318 windows · 2026 fan posts
deas×316.6riddick×240.7elijah×66.9atkins×100.9demarcus×115.8caldwell×94.4xavier×28.8bryce×19.1
Elijah Melendez
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. Two seasons at Auburn, two different head coaches: Hugh Freeze and Alex Golesh. One game to point at: 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL against Baylor — Week 1, 2026.
18 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
202511 games
- Signed with Auburn4-star out of Osceola
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Auburn
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Auburn
Coaching transition mid-career: Hugh Freeze → Alex Golesh. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Auburn5-7HC: Hugh Freeze · Run-leaning
2026Auburn2-0HC: Alex Golesh · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: passes defended (99th percentile). Strength: qb hurries (96th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
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: 9.0 TKL/g, 1.5 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 1.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Alex Golesh
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #45 of 76 SEC LBs
How the All-SEC 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 17–16
vs Baylor
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Auburn
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Auburn
Returning around him
- 5 Auburn players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (39 in / 39 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Auburn · Last season: 5-7 (AP #22) · Talent rank #18 · 2026 recruiting class #31
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
LB
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Jacob Onyechi’s 2016 season.
53%match
Matches Jacob on
Tackle volume
Differs from Jacob on
PD rate (higher)
Hurry rate (higher)
Height (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to J'Dan Burnett's sophomore season at Louisiana Tech (2022).
67%match
All-AAC
Matches J'Dan on
TFL rate
Weight
Differs from J'Dan on
Class year (lower)
Solo tackle rate (lower)
PD rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Elijah Melendez
The linebacker corps · Auburn
- #17Xavier Atkins84 tackles · 2025
- #9Elijah Melendez30 tackles · 2025
- #6Demarcus Riddick13 tackles · 2025
- #16Bryce Deas12 tackles · 2025
- #42Coleman Granberry2 tackles · 2025
5 more on the roster · Auburn team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology