Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 3-17@ Duke | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 28-24vs South Alabama | 8 | 4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 8 tackles |
| Total | 12 | 6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#42
Makai Williams
Senior linebacker for Tulane. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 231 lb · Cibolo, TX · Cibolo Steele HS
CFB Index 28 · #475 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Tulane 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.
The numbers
12
tackles · 2026
2 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, vs South Alabama
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Tulane. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Tulane in 2023.
Makai Williams
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Four seasons at Tulane, three different head coaches: Slade Nagle, Jon Sumrall and Will Hall. The receipt on tape: 8 tackles, 2 TFL against South Alabama, Week 2, 2026.
12 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2023
- Signed with Tulane3-star out of Cibolo Steele
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Tulane
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Slade Nagle, Jon Sumrall, and Will Hall. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Tulane11-3HC: Slade Nagle · Run-leaning
2024Tulane9-5HC: Jon Sumrall · Run-heavy
2025Tulane11-3HC: Jon Sumrall · Run-leaning
2026Tulane1-1HC: Will Hall · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidenceAscending
Elite: tackles for loss (85th 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: 6.0 TKL/g, 1.0 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
Will Hall
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
28 · #475 of 583 LBs
Three-star recruit. Now #475 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-AAC
Based on 2025: #47 of 61 American Athletic LBs
How the All-AAC 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 2 · 2026
W 28–24
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Tulane
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Tulane
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -7 net (20 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tulane · Last season: 11-3 (AP #17) · Talent rank #70 · 2026 recruiting class #64
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to TD Blackmon’s 2021 season.
Matches TD on
Weight
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Differs from TD on
Hurry rate (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Max Alford's junior season at BYU (2025).
Matches Max on
Weight
Tackle volume
TFL rate
Background
2025: Appeared in 14 games with three starts at linebacker ... Totaled 40 tackles, 4.5 stops for loss, and one sack ... Recorded two tackles, a stop for loss for 11 yards, and a sack for an 11 yards loss at Tulsa (9/27). 2024: Played in all 14 games…Totaled seven tackles and a pass breakup. 2023:...
The linebacker corps · Tulane
- #4Chris Rodgers80 tackles · 2025
- #11Dalton Hughes40 tackles · 2025
- #2Dickson Agu36 tackles · 2025
- #42Makai Williams25 tackles · 2025
- #44Jean Claude Joseph III7 tackles · 2025
5 more on the roster · Tulane team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology