#33
Sam Houston · 2026

Brian Bates Jr.

LBSenior6' 1", 230 lbsCentreville, VA
Sam Houston Bearkats1-5 · TDC #125
Snap share
81%
4 of 6 started · likely 68–98%
Tackles
27
560th of 5406 in FBS
Solo
13
Tackles for loss
4.5
189th of 2447 in FBS
Sacks
1
489th of 1212 in FBS
Interceptions
0

Advanced

Computed from every play, garbage time excluded. FBS rank among players with enough volume

DefenseValueFBS rank
Havoc plays5269th / 2573
Tackles for loss5113th / 1909
Run stops13330th / 3262
Sacks1—
Pass breakups0—
Interceptions0—
Forced fumbles0—
Tackles24—

Charting

Where Jr.'s plays went: throw and catch spots, air yards and yards after the catch, read from the play-by-play

Passes defended
0
0 broken up · 0 intercepted
QB hurries
1
as the play text names the rusher
Tackles after a catch
3
4.3 yds per catch on those
YAC on those catches
3.3
yds after the catch before his tackle
Coverage plays
3
PBUs + INTs + tackles after a catch

The play-by-play names the defender on breakups, interceptions and tackles, but not the man in coverage on every throw, so true times-targeted isn't in the text. Coverage plays is the closest stand-in; exact targets come from hand charting.

Game Log

Brian Bates Jr.'s box score, game by game, from ESPN, with a 0–10 game score for each (hover it for how it works). Click a result for the full game

6.4 avg. game scoreBest: 7.6 vs Tulsa (Week 2)0 of 6 games at 8.0+
Defense
WkOpponentResultGame scoreTklSoloTFLSacksHurPDINTTD
1@TroyL 21–246.6311100··
2TulsaL 17–237.6941010··
3NichollsW 59–06.0311000··
4@Texas TechL 14–495.7430000··
6@LibertyL 3–356.1321000··
7Western KentuckyL 3–166.1520.5000··
2026 · 6 games6.427134.5110··

2026 Season Stats

FBS rank among qualifying players

Defense2026FBS rank
Tackles27560th / 5406
Solo13—
Tackles for loss4.5189th / 2447
Sacks1489th / 1212
QB hurries1628th / 1377
Passes defended0—
Defensive TD0—

Snaps by Game

Estimated snaps from a model trained on real NFL snap counts. Ranges in brackets are where the real number lands 80% of the time: wide for a single game, tighter over the season. How it works

GameStartOpp. playsEst. snapsPlays madeSnap share
Wk 1 · Troy—66~53 (27–62)380%
Wk 2 · Tulsa—73~72 (37–73)999%
Wk 3 · Nicholls✓ LB58~33 (3–58)357%
Wk 4 · Texas Tech✓ LB65~56 (28–65)486%
Wk 6 · Liberty✓ LB52~42 (21–49)381%
Wk 7 · Western Kentucky✓ LB74~60 (30–71)581%
Season4 GS388316 (265–379)2781%

Position Room

12 LBs on the Sam Houston roster, ordered by tkl

#PlayerPosClassTklTFLSacksINTPD
21Dean FordLBJR383.51—1
33Brian Bates Jr.LBSR274.51—0
23Mike King Jr.LBJR140.50.5—0
12Elijah GrovesLBJR123.52.5—0
26Tokyo GordonLBSR1000—1
18Stacy BeyLBSO600—1
42Ca'lub HollowayLBSR32.50—0
45Eli WallaceLBSR100—0
Cole WorthingtonLB100—0
32Kade HoustonLBSR—————
37Ryan MalloryLBFR—————
44Ray ChathamLBJR—————

Stats, EPA and usage come from CollegeFootballData.com and refresh daily. FBS ranks only count players with enough volume for the stat to mean something. Qualifying for EPA takes —+ plays per team game. Sam Houston depth chart →