Junior linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 216 lb · Murfreesboro, TN · Oakland
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
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.
Tackles: 96th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 10 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Nevada
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Junior linebacker for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Korey Smith
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. He has spent three seasons in the Middle Tennessee linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Marshall, Week 2, 2026.
26 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Derek Mason.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 26 | 11 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 38 | 19 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Middle Tennessee | 4 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 68 | 30 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 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 38-14vs Murray State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 13 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 13 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 27-20vs Nevada | 10 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 11 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
3 tackles · 1 solo tackles
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
Since week 2: +10 tackles, +1 tackle for loss.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Derek Mason — 8-19 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: tackles (96th percentile). Strength: solo tackles (84th percentile). Concern: passes defended (28th 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
Tackle volume
26tackles this seasonTFL rate
6%2 TFLSack rate
0%0 sacksPD rate
0%0 pass breakups26 tackles · 2 for loss.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road1g | 13.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 8.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Derek Mason
Pass share
58.0%
102 pass / 74 run
Plays / game
58.7
3 games
Team sack rate
1.9%
108 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Pass-leaning, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #30 of 45 Conference USA 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
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,535 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the Conference USA as a junior.
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Joe Sparacio’s 2022 season.
Matches Joe on
Differs from Joe on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Treshawn Chamberlain's junior season at Rice (2020).
Matches Treshawn on
Player DNA
Honors • 2025: MTSU Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week 10/9 2025 (Sophomore) • Played in all 12 games and had five starts • Ended the year with 40 tackles to rank fifth on the team, while also adding an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery • Was in on 390 defensive…
11 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page