Sophomore defensive back for Florida State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 183 lb · Jacksonville, FL · Wakulla
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
interception · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 INT, 1 tackles, vs SMU
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Sophomore defensive back for Florida State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Nehemiah Chandler
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. Across two seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Major Applewhite and Mike Norvell. His first career honor landed in 2025: All-Sun Belt. One game to point at: 3 tackles against New Mexico State — Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
Career arc
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-SUN BELT · 1ST TEAM
All-Sun Belt 1st team (2025)
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Florida State
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Florida State | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | South Alabama | 31 | 22 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 13 | 2 | -- |
| Career | 36 | 26 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 14 | 3 | -- |
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 34-17vs New Mexico State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 1 | L 24-27vs SMU | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 3 | L 36-50@ Alabama | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 34–17
3 tackles · 1 pass breakups · 2 solo tackles
With A. Daniels — 202 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · QBR 72.0 · 30 rush yds (8 car) · 1 TD · S. Singleton — 42 rush yds (9 car) · 1 TD
Since week 1: +2 tackles, +1 tackle for loss.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th 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.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Road1g | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Norvell
Pass share
40.5%
79 pass / 116 run
Plays / game
65.0
3 games
Team sack rate
8.8%
91 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Play style
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,158 recruit in the country is starting in the secondary in the ACC as a sophomore.
Player DNA
Reads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Zemaiah Vaughn’s 2022 season.
Matches Zemaiah on
Differs from Zemaiah on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Quandarius Keyes's freshman season at UNLV (2025).
Matches Quandarius on
Differs from Quandarius on
Player DNA
BEFORE FSU: Played 11 games with 10 starts at cornerback for South Alabama in 2025…totaled 32 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 13 pass breakups…pass breakups total tied South Alabama single-season record, led Sun Belt Conference and ranked second nationally…ranked third…
15 more on the roster · Florida State team page