Elijah Barnes, Kentucky LB: the 2026 season story
Elijah Barnes is a sophomore linebacker for Kentucky (SEC). He ranks 241st of 930 linebackers in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every linebacker on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked linebacker, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Elijah Barnes's strongest measure is tackles per game at 6.9, 89th of 459 (the average is 5.1). His weakest is interceptions per game at 0.00, 106th of 459 (the average is 0.03).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 6.9, ranks 89th among 459 ranked linebackers.
Against every linebacker
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked linebackers he sits, on average, in the 81st percentile for volume and 32nd for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Elijah Barnes's best came in week 6 against LSU and his quietest in week 4 against South Alabama.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every linebacker on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Elijah Barnes is 178th of 459 FBS linebackers and 25th of 47 in the SEC. Next up nationally is Jalen Marshall of Marshall, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Linebackers like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Wade Abrams of South Dakota.
