Senior linebacker for UConn. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 235 lb · Massillon, OH · Massillon Washington HS
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: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Lafayette
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for UConn. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Luke Murphy
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. Luke Murphy has played for four head coaches across five seasons and four programs. The receipt: 5 tackles against Southern Miss — Week 3, 2026.
12 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
7 programs, one constant: he played.
The role got bigger.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2020–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Jim Mora, Gordon Sammis, and Jason Candle. Multi-era developmental context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to UConn
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UConn | 12 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Coastal Carolina | 36 | 24 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Eastern Michigan | 94 | 38 | 5.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2022 | Kent State | 13 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2020 | Kent State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 156 | 75 | 10.5 | 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 56-7vs Lafayette | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 14-38vs Maryland | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 48-20@ Southern Miss | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 12 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–7
vs Lafayette
1 tackles for loss · 3 tackles · 2 solo tackles
Dominant 49-point win at home against Lafayette.
With K. Osborne — 265 yds · 2 TD · 1 INT · 90 rush yds (8 car) · 2 TD · T. Warner — 43 yards per punt · 2 punts · 1 inside the 20
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +1 pass breakup.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Production sits in the middle of the position cohort across the board.
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 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 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 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Jason Candle
Pass share
40.3%
79 pass / 117 run
Plays / game
65.3
3 games
Team sack rate
8.3%
96 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Play style
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 2,395 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the FBS Independents as a senior.
Player DNA
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Eric Mitchell’s 2021 season.
Matches Eric on
Differs from Eric on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Craig Young's senior season at Kansas (2023).
Matches Craig on
Differs from Craig on
Player DNA
10 more on the roster · UConn team page