Cole Hughes, Lehigh LB: the 2026 season story
Cole Hughes is a junior linebacker for Lehigh (Patriot). He ranks 905th 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. Cole Hughes's strongest measure is passes defended per game at 0.08, 285th 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. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.2, ranks 454th 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 1st percentile for volume and 10th 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, Cole Hughes's best came in week 1 at Holy Cross and his quietest in week 5 against Fordham.
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. Cole Hughes is 447th of 471 FCS linebackers and 36th of 40 in the Patriot. Next up nationally is Jayden Brown of Maine, 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 Hunter Brooks of Davidson.
