Senior linebacker for Arizona. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 230 lb · Chandler, AZ · Hamilton 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.
How he plays
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage.
Passes defended: 92nd percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL, vs Northern Arizona
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Arizona. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Taye Brown
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Four seasons at Arizona, two different head coaches: Jedd Fisch and Brent Brennan. 2025 brought the first one: All-Big 12. The receipt on tape: 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Northern Arizona, Week 1, 2026.
18 TACKLES · 0.5 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 · 2023–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Jedd Fisch → Brent Brennan. 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 35-7vs Northern Arizona | 11 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 11 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 17-28@ BYU | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 42-17vs Northern Illinois | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 18 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | — | 2 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 35–7
Since week 2: +3 tackles, +0.5 tackles for loss, +0.5 sacks.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: passes defended (92nd percentile). Concern: solo tackles (21st 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
18tackles this seasonTFL rate
6%1 TFLSack rate
3%0 sacksPD rate
11%2 pass breakups18 tackles · 1 for loss · 0 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 7.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Road1g | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 6.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Brent Brennan
Pass share
53.6%
105 pass / 91 run
Plays / game
65.3
3 games
Team sack rate
7.7%
117 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #19 of 73 Big 12 LBs
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. 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
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,403 recruit in the country is starting at linebacker in the Big 12 as a senior.
Player DNA
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Jalen Brooks’s 2016 season.
Matches Jalen on
Differs from Jalen on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Max Carroll's senior season at TCU (2026).
Matches Max on
Differs from Max on
Player DNA
Purchase Jersey Awards & Honors 2025: Third Team All-Big 12 2025: Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason Watch List (5/28) 2024: Big 12 Fall Academic Honor Roll 2024: College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Arizona 2025 (Junior) Started all 13 games for the Wildcats as a junior Enjoyed a…
11 more on the roster · Arizona team page