Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-7vs Central Michigan | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 70-7vs Mercyhurst | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
#7
Tavian Combs
Senior safety for New Mexico. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 198 lb · Amarillo, TX · Randall HS
CFB Index 61 · #173 of 544 safetiesMedium confidenceReturning to New Mexico 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
interception · 2026
6 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 INT, 2 tackles, vs Mercyhurst
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 safety for New Mexico. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 2-star recruit to New Mexico in 2020.
- 1 interception in 2025. Then 1 in 2026.
Tavian Combs
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. Six seasons at New Mexico, two different head coaches: Danny Gonzales and Jason Eck. One game to point at: 4 tackles against Central Michigan — Week 1, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
3 programs, one constant: he played.
20207 games
- Signed with New Mexico2-star out of Randall
2024
- Entered the portal
202513 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★
CFB
College
New Mexico
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2020–2026
2 coaches2020–2023
New Mexico
2025–2026era →
Jason Eck
New Mexico
Coaching transition mid-career: Danny Gonzales → Jason Eck. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2020New Mexico2-5HC: Danny Gonzales · Run-leaning
2021New Mexico3-9HC: Danny Gonzales · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2022New Mexico2-10HC: Danny Gonzales · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2023New Mexico4-8HC: Danny Gonzales · Run-leaning
2025New Mexico9-4HC: Jason Eck · Run-leaning
2026New Mexico2-0HC: Jason Eck · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
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: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Jason Eck
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Impact starter
Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
61 · #173 of 544 safeties
Two-star recruit. Now #173 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-Mountain West
Based on 2025: #6 of 17 Mountain West Ss
How the All-Mountain West estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. 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 | New Mexico | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | New Mexico | 72 | 36 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | New Mexico | 46 | 29 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2022 | New Mexico | 16 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2021 | New Mexico | 77 | 39 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 2 | -- |
| 2020 | New Mexico | 50 | 23 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 267 | 138 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 11 | 4 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 70–7
vs Mercyhurst
2 TOT · 1 INT · 2 YDS
Dominant 63-point win at home against Mercyhurst.
With C. Steinkamp — 59 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 76 LONG · M. Kern — 38 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 39 LONG
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
New Mexico
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Safety · New Mexico
Returning around him
- 1 New Mexico player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (14 in / 14 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
New Mexico · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #112 · 2026 recruiting class #87
DNA match
Player DNA
Box Safety
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
S
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Devin Turner’s 2023 season.
88%match
Matches Devin on
Interceptions
PD rate
TFL rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Zakee Wheatley's graduate season at Penn State (2025).
83%match
NFL Rd 5
Matches Zakee on
Class year
Tackle volume
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Tavian Combs
The secondary · New Mexico
- #7Tavian Combs72 tackles · 2025
- #5Frankie Edwards47 tackles · 2025
- #3CJ McBean40 tackles · 2025
- #9Eric McClain26 tackles · 2025
- Austin Brawley25 tackles · 2025
18 more on the roster · New Mexico team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology