Javante Mackey gives Texas State a veteran, downhill linebacker with proven tackle production
In the 2026 season, Javante Mackey is a 6-foot-2, 251-pound R-Jr. linebacker at Texas State who arrived with real production in his resume, including an 84-tackle, 9.5-TFL breakout in 2023 at Arkansas State and a preseason fourth-team nod from Phil Steele for 2026.[1][4][9][15] The big sell: he plays with size, toughness, and rangy run-fit value, and one scouting digest praised his ability to hold up snap after snap without an obvious weakness to attack.[5] The concern is fit and consistency after an injury-interrupted stop at Memphis and a bumpy 2025 transition, so he looks best as a physical, tone-setting piece if Texas State wants a linebacker who can thump and stabilize the middle.[9][15]
