Tavin Ward, South Florida LB: the 2026 season story
Tavin Ward is a linebacker for South Florida (American Athletic). He ranks 516th 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. Tavin Ward's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.09, 95th of 459 (the average is 0.03). His weakest is sacks per game at 0.00, 281st of 459 (the average is 0.13).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 4.9, ranks 227th 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 51st percentile for volume and 36th 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, Tavin Ward's best came in week 1 against Florida International and his quietest in week 5 against Temple.
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. Tavin Ward is 313th of 459 FBS linebackers and 26th of 48 in the American Athletic. Next up nationally is Stevie Bracey of Buffalo, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. His best season by the Player Index was 2023 at South Florida, 253rd of 1,092 linebackers.
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 Ammon Allen of Northern Arizona.
