Sophomore linebacker for New Mexico State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 200 lb · Las Cruces, NM
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
tackles · 2026
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, vs Mercyhurst
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for New Mexico State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Zaiden Davis
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. He has spent two seasons in the New Mexico State linebacker corps. One game to point at: 3 tackles against Florida State — Week 1, 2026.
7 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Tony Sanchez — 5-10 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: qb hurries (83rd percentile). Concern: tackles (0th 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.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tony Sanchez
Pass share
52.3%
101 pass / 92 run
Plays / game
64.3
3 games
Team sack rate
3.7%
107 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2025
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Three-star recruit. Now #569 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #45 of 45 Conference USA LBs
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.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New Mexico State | 7 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | New Mexico State | 24 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 31 | 10 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–14
vs Mercyhurst
3 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 37-point win at home against Mercyhurst.
With T. Washington Jr. — 43 rush yds (7 car) · 2 TD · T. Hedden — 253 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 36.8 · -7 rush yds (3 car)
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 17-34@ Florida State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 1 | W 51-14vs Mercyhurst | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 19-29@ Hawai'i | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
New Mexico State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · New Mexico State
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
New Mexico State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #135 · 2026 recruiting class #134
Player DNA
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Markus Boswell’s 2025 season.
Matches Markus on
Differs from Markus on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Brennan Johnson's freshman season at Virginia Tech (2025).
Matches Brennan on
4 more on the roster · New Mexico State team page