Senior linebacker for Baylor. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 247 lb · Altamonte Springs, FL · Apopka 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.
Solo tackles: 91st percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 tackles, vs Auburn
Statement game16 tackles · 3 TFL · 2 sacksat Liberty (FBS) · L 24-31
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Baylor. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Travion Barnes
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. In 2024 the league put his name on paper for the first time: Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. One game to point at: 9 tackles against Auburn — Week 1, 2026.
18 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
The snaps went the other way.
Career arc
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE USA · 1ST TEAM
All-Conference USA 1st team (2024)
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Dave Aranda.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Baylor | 18 | 13 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Baylor | 11 | 10 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Florida International | 129 | 59 | 10.5 | 3.0 | -- | 2 | -- |
| Career | 158 | 82 | 12.0 | 4.0 | 1 | 2 | -- |
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 | L 16-17@ Auburn | 9 | 7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 44-3vs Prairie View A&M | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 36-19vs Louisiana Tech | 5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Total | 18 | 13 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 44–3
0.5 tackles for loss · 4 tackles · 2 solo tackles
Dominant 41-point win at home against Prairie View A&M.
With N. Bennett — 301 yds · 2 TD · 2 INT · QBR 29.6 · 13 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Knighten — 66 rush yds (12 car) · 1 TD
Since week 2: +5 tackles, +1 pass breakup.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: solo tackles (91st 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
3%0 TFLSack rate
0%0 sacksPD rate
6%1 pass breakups18 tackles · 0 for loss.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 4.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Road1g | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 6.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dave Aranda
Pass share
48.2%
119 pass / 128 run
Plays / game
82.3
3 games
Team sack rate
4.6%
131 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced, fast tempo.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
The No. 1,731 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 Jackson Mitchell’s 2016 season.
Matches Jackson on
Differs from Jackson on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to John Lamot's junior season at Boston College (2020).
Matches John on
• Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF) • Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele) • Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon) 2025 (Senior): Played in the first four games of the year before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Arizona State … Totaled 11 tackles, including a sack … Had…
7 more on the roster · Baylor team page