Senior linebacker for Buffalo. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 210 lb · Phoenix, IL · Thornwood
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
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage.
Solo tackles: 95th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sacks, at Penn State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Buffalo. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Saveon Brown
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Across four seasons and two programs, three head coaches: Lance Taylor, Maurice Linguist and Pete Lembo. One game to point at: 10 tackles against Florida International — Week 2, 2026.
21 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
6 programs, one constant: he played.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Maurice Linguist → Pete Lembo. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
In Portal · 2026
In transfer portal
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Buffalo | 21 | 15 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Buffalo | 52 | 20 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 4 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Buffalo | 16 | 10 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Western Michigan | 16 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 105 | 54 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 10 | 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 21-17vs UAlbany | 6 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 20-33@ Florida International | 10 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 | Season-high 10 tackles |
| Wk 3 | L 13-55@ Penn State | 5 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 15 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 2 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 21–17
vs UAlbany
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +1 tackle for loss, +1 sack.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: solo tackles (95th percentile). Strength: passes defended (92nd 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
21tackles this seasonTFL rate
10%2 TFLSack rate
5%1 sacksPD rate
10%2 pass breakups21 tackles · 2 for loss · 1 sacks · 1 interception.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 7.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 7.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pete Lembo
Pass share
54.9%
113 pass / 93 run
Plays / game
68.7
3 games
Team sack rate
4.3%
117 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,461 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the Mid-American as a senior.
Player DNA
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Brandon Tillmon’s 2018 season.
Matches Brandon on
Differs from Brandon on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Kamren Fabiculanan's senior season at Washington (2023).
Matches Kamren on
Differs from Kamren on
Player DNA
Hoof Prints: Transfer from Western Michigan... rebounded from a season-ending injury in 2024 to have a strong 2025 campaign... major is psychology. Redshirt-Junior (2025): Appeared in 12 games and made eight starts at nickel... had 52 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass…
10 more on the roster · Buffalo team page