Senior linebacker for Houston. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 230 lb · Salt Lake City, UT · Bingham 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: 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL, at Texas Tech
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Houston. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Sione Fotu
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Sione Fotu has played for two head coaches across five seasons and two programs. 2025 brought the first one: Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. One game to point at: 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Texas Tech — Week 3, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
The role got bigger.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2020–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Dana Holgorsen → Willie Fritz. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
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 33-20vs Oregon State | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 77-6vs Southern | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | L 26-28@ Texas Tech | 5 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 9 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 77–6
vs Southern
3 tackles · 2 solo tackles · 1 fumble recoveries
Dominant 71-point win at home against Southern.
With K. Henderson — 83 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 23.8 · 54 rush yds (1 car) · 1 TD · C. Weigman — 120 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 48.3 · 6 rush yds (1 car)
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +0.5 tackles 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 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Willie Fritz
Pass share
42.1%
88 pass / 121 run
Plays / game
69.7
3 games
Team sack rate
4.1%
97 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2025
Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Three-star recruit. Now #446 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #56 of 73 Big 12 LBs
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.
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,043 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the Big 12 as a senior.
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tyler Jackson’s 2023 season.
Matches Tyler on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Miguel Mitchell's senior season at Arkansas (2025).
Matches Miguel on
Player DNA
As a Junior (2025) Polynesian Player of the Year watchlist Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 29) Played in all 13 games while starting in 12 at the mike position Ranked second in the country and led the Big 12 with three fumble recoveries Finished with a 74.6 PFF tackling grade,…
10 more on the roster · Houston team page