Tahj Ra-El
Tahj Ra-El
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. Three head coaches in five seasons, at three different programs. The receipt on tape: 15 tackles against Rutgers, Week 9, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Jeff Brohm, Ryan Walters, and Barry Odom. Multi-era developmental context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Barry Odom
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR07 · Impact starter
Impact starter. Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Purdue | 110 | 63 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 5 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Memphis | 18 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Old Dominion | 84 | 41 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 6 | 1 | -- |
| 2022 | Old Dominion | 40 | 20 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2021 | Old Dominion | 8 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 260 | 132 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 2 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025
W 34–17
vs Southern Illinois
7 SOLO · 7 TOT
How he plays
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Purdue
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · Purdue
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +5 net (29 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Purdue · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #54 · 2026 recruiting class #55
DNA match
Player DNA
Box Safety
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Devin Lafayette’s 2025 season.
Matches Devin on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Donald Willis's graduate season at Western Michigan (2024).
Matches Donald on