Junior linebacker for South Carolina. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 241 lb · Norfolk, VA
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: 5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, vs Mississippi State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Junior linebacker for South Carolina. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Fred Johnson
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Third year in the South Carolina linebacker corps, same address the whole way. His first career honor landed in 2025: SEC Defensive Player of the Week. The receipt on tape: 5 tackles, 1.5 TFL against Mississippi State, Week 3, 2026.
10 TACKLES · 0.5 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He arrived as a blue-chip recruit and played like one.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Shane Beamer.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Carolina | 10 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | South Carolina | 62 | 38 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 78 | 45 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | -- |
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 57-0vs Kent State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-9vs Towson | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | L 34-41vs Mississippi State | 5 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 10 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 45–9
vs Towson
3 tackles · 1 hurries · 1 solo tackles
Dominant 36-point win at home against Towson.
With L. Sellers — 96 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · 119 rush yds (7 car) · 1 TD · M. Fuller — 125 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +1.5 tackles for loss, +0.5 sacks.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Shane Beamer — 15-13 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (8th 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Shane Beamer
Pass share
45.6%
99 pass / 118 run
Plays / game
72.3
3 games
Team sack rate
5.4%
111 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2025
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Former four-star. Now #182 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #25 of 76 SEC LBs
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
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 2025 production profile sits closest to Trenton Simpson’s 2022 season.
Matches Trenton on
Differs from Trenton on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Justin Okoronkwo's sophomore season at South Carolina (2025).
Matches Justin on
Player DNA
4 more on the roster · South Carolina team page