Ricky Encarnacion, New Haven LB: the 2026 season story
Ricky Encarnacion is a senior linebacker for New Haven (NEC). He ranks 39th 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. Ricky Encarnacion's strongest measure is passes defended per game at 0.62, 6th of 459 (the average is 0.13). Even his lowest-ranked one is good: tackles for loss per game at 0.50, 143rd of 459 (the average is 0.40).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 6.7, ranks 100th 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 79th percentile for volume and 83rd 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, Ricky Encarnacion's best came in week 10 against Long Island University and his quietest in week 1 against Marist.
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. Ricky Encarnacion is 5th of 471 FCS linebackers and 1st of 31 in the NEC. Next up nationally is Jayven Anderson of Houston Christian, 0.01 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 Ben Roberts of Texas Tech.
