T.J. Nelson, Lamar LB: the 2026 season story
T.J. Nelson is a sophomore linebacker for Lamar (Southland). He ranks 345th 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. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. T.J. Nelson's strongest measure is sacks per game at 0.36, 37th of 459 (the average is 0.13). His weakest is interceptions per game at 0.00, 106th of 459 (the average is 0.03).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His tackles per game, 3.6, ranks 335th among 459 ranked linebackers.
Against every linebacker
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of linebacker he is. Among ranked linebackers he sits, on average, in the 27th percentile for volume and 41st for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 10 games, T.J. Nelson's best came in week 8 against Houston Christian and his quietest in week 4 at Nicholls.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. T.J. Nelson is 112th of 471 FCS linebackers and 8th of 34 in the Southland. Next up nationally is Cahari Haynes of Gardner-Webb, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Linebackers like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Dalten Phelan of Cornell.
