Max Samuel, Valparaiso LB: the 2026 season story
Max Samuel is a junior linebacker for Valparaiso (Pioneer). He ranks 18th 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. Max Samuel's strongest measure is sacks per game at 0.59, 12th of 459 (the average is 0.13). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.07, 287th of 459 (the average is 0.13).
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, 4.4, ranks 259th 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 44th percentile for volume and 78th 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 9 games, Max Samuel's best came in week 2 at Murray State and his quietest in week 10 at Dayton.
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. Max Samuel is 2nd of 471 FCS linebackers and 1st of 41 in the Pioneer. Next up nationally is Christian Magliacano of Colgate, 0.18 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 Blake Houser of Richmond.
