Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-14vs Murray State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#16
Jaiyden Thompson
Senior linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 249 lb · Okolona, MS · Shannon
Returning to Middle Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
4
tackles · 2026
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs Murray State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- 4 tackles in 2025. Then 4 in 2026.
Jaiyden Thompson
He has spent two seasons in the Middle Tennessee linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 2 tackles against Marshall, Week 2, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Middle Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Derek Mason — 4-10 over that span.
2025Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning
2026Middle Tennessee1-1HC: Derek Mason · Pass-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th 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: 2.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Derek Mason
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 8 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
2 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 24-point win at home against Murray State.
With R. Gagliano — 200 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 25 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Lacy — 8 rec · 118 yds · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Middle Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Middle Tennessee
Returning around him
- 1 Middle Tennessee player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (20 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Middle Tennessee · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #109 · 2026 recruiting class #119
Background
2025 (Junior) • Played in 11 games • Ended the year with four tackles and 0.5 TFLs • Was in on 21 defensive snaps on the season and another 122 on special teams • Had a 71.9 PFF grade for special teams which was fourth-best on the team • Had a tackle and a half TFL against FIU Itawamba • Played n...
The linebacker corps · Middle Tennessee
- #26Korey Smith38 tackles · 2025
- #46Reggie Johnson35 tackles · 2025
- #31Mathias Malaki-Donaldson7 tackles · 2025
- #16Jaiyden Thompson4 tackles · 2025
- #33Malik Love1 tackle · 2025
11 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology