Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 39-14vs SE Louisiana | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | L 24-28@ Tulane | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#56
Stephen Johnson
Senior defensive lineman for South Alabama. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 310 lb · Fayetteville, GA
CFB Index 30 · #259 of 330 interior linemenLow confidenceReturning to South Alabama 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
1
sack · 2026
1 TFL · 5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 1 TFL, 3 tackles, at Tulane
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman for South Alabama. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Auburn in 2023.
- Court grants Johnson eligibility year (Aug 27) Reported
Stephen Johnson
Controls the point of attack and doesn't move. He has spent two seasons in the South Alabama defensive front. The receipt: 3 tackles, 1 sacks against Tulane — Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with Auburn3-star out of Whitewater
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
South Alabama
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Major Applewhite — 5-9 over that span.
2025South Alabama4-8HC: Major Applewhite · Run-heavy
2026South Alabama1-1HC: Major Applewhite · Run-heavy, fast tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Low confidence
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th 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: 2.5 TKL/g, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Major Applewhite
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
30 · #259 of 330 interior linemen
Three-star recruit. Now #259 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Sun Belt
Based on 2025: #39 of 48 Sun Belt DLs
How the All-Sun Belt 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
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Alabama | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | South Alabama | 16 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 21 | 4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 39–14
vs SE Louisiana
2 TOT
Dominant 25-point win at home against SE Louisiana.
With K. Phillips — 66 rush yds (13 car) · B. Davenport — 154 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 23 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
South Alabama
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · South Alabama
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -18 net (12 in / 30 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
South Alabama · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #107 · 2026 recruiting class #77
DNA match
Player DNA
Nose Anchor
The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kayden McDonald’s 2024 season.
86%match
NFL Rd 2 · Pk 4
Matches Kayden on
Weight
Height
Class year
Differs from Kayden on
Hurry rate (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Kai McClendon's freshman season at Mississippi State (2024).
81%match
Matches Kai on
Class year
Weight
Sack rate
The defensive line · South Alabama
- #9Emmanuel Waller2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #56Stephen Johnson1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #90E'Mauri Smiley1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #52Janier Armstead1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #95Johnathan Street0 tackles for loss · 2025
10 more on the roster · South Alabama team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology