Braylen Gardner brings fresh LB upside to Idaho State
In the 2026 season, Braylen Gardner is a freshman linebacker at Idaho State listed at 6'2", 220 pounds, giving the Bengals a long, rangy defender with room to grow into a bigger role.[1][13] The key differentiator right now is projection: he arrives from Arbor View HS after playing in a defense described as one of the region’s most physical units, and Idaho State’s signing notes highlight him as part of a deep defensive class.[15] His current college stat line is not yet available, so the intrigue is mostly about fit, toughness, and upside rather than production.[13]
