Linebacker, Western Illinois, 2025–26
Justin Buckner
- Number
- No. 11
- Height
- 5′11″
- Weight
- 205 lb
- Class (2026)
- Sophomore
- Hometown
- Chicago, IL
Justin Buckner plays linebacker for Western Illinois. Last time out, at Southeast Missouri State: 15 tackles, a career high in tackles. Buckner leads Western Illinois in sacks this season.
2026 so far
43 tackles, 3 sacks
Last game: 15 tackles ★ at Southeast Missouri State, L 30–40
Next game: vs. UT Martin, Oct 24
Filled bars: wins; outlined: losses.
Career highs
15tackles, career highat Southeast Missouri State, 20262sacks, career highvs. Morehead State, 2026Defense
* The season in progress, so far.
| Season | Team | Tkl | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PD | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Illinois | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | Western Illinois | 43 | 32 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Career | 44 | 32 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | |
Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.
On the roster
| Season | Team | No. | Pos | Class | Ht | Wt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Illinois | 11 | LB | Fr. | ||
| 2026 | Western Illinois | 11 | LB | So. | 5′11″ | 205 |
As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.
Game by game
2026 Western Illinois 7 games, 43 tackles, 3 sacks
| Date | Opponent | Result | Tkl | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27 | vs.Northwestern (IA) | W 65–14 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 5 | vs. Illinois State | L 10–41 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 12 | at Wisconsin | L 9–36 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 19 | vs. Morehead State | W 59–2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 26 | at North Alabama | L 20–23 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3 | vs. Tennessee State | W 28–21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17 | at Southeast Missouri State | L 30–40 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2025 Western Illinois 1 game, 1 tackle
| Date | Opponent | Result | Tkl | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | at Northwestern | L 7–42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.
Is this you, or do you know of something wrong or missing here? Suggest a correction. We check each one against a source before changing the page.