Senior linebacker for UAB. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 230 lb · York, PA · DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
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
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
Solo tackles: 100th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 7 tackles, 1.5 TFL, at Illinois
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for UAB. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Muaaz Byard
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. Across three seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Derek Mason and Alex Mortensen. One game to point at: 13 tackles against UL Monroe — Week 2, 2026.
32 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
5 programs, one constant: he played.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Trent Dilfer → Alex Mortensen. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to UAB
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UAB | 32 | 21 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 37 | 14 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Middle Tennessee | 21 | 13 | 1.5 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 90 | 48 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 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 | L 23-42@ Illinois | 7 | 3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 26-20vs UL Monroe | 13 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 13 tackles |
| Wk 3 | L 14-21@ Louisiana | 12 | 12 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 21 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 26–20
vs UL Monroe
Since week 2: +25 tackles.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: solo tackles (100th percentile). Strength: tackles (99th 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
32tackles this seasonTFL rate
5%2 TFLSack rate
0%0 sacksPD rate
0%0 pass breakups32 tackles · 2 for loss.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 13.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 9.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 10.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Alex Mortensen
Pass share
36.0%
73 pass / 130 run
Plays / game
67.7
3 games
Team sack rate
8.2%
85 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Play style
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Christian Sam’s 2017 season.
Matches Christian on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Aaron Key's junior season at Western Kentucky (2023).
Matches Aaron on
Player DNA
2025 (Middle Tennessee): Played in eight games and earned four starts Finished ninth on the team in tackles with a career-best 37, including 4.5 TFLs, an interception, and two pass breakups Was in on 321 snaps while also playing 86 on special teams Registered five tackles in season opener…
12 more on the roster · UAB team page