Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-14vs Murray State | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 1 | 15 | Season-high 61 yds |
| Total | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 1 | 15 |
#6
AJ Jones
Redshirt senior wide receiver for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 208 lb · Ontario, CA · Colony
CFB Index 33 · #384 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Middle Tennessee for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
61
receiving yards · 2026
6 catches · 1 TD · 10.2 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far
The play that turned itSwung Middle Tennessee from 13% to 65% to win.Middle Tennessee at Marshall · 28-26
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 wide receiver for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Arizona in 2022.
AJ Jones
Wins the 50-50 ball at the goal line. Two head coaches in four seasons, at two different programs. One game to point at: 61 rec yds, 6 receptions against Marshall — Week 2, 2026.
61 REC YDS · 6 REC · 1 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
The week the volume broke through — stacked 2 td at New Mexico State.New Mexico State · W 31-242025
2022
- Signed with Arizona3-star out of Colony
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
2 coaches2022–2023
Middle Tennessee
Coaching transition mid-career: Rick Stockstill → Derek Mason. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2022Arizona5-7HC: Jedd Fisch · Pass-leaning
2023Arizona10-3HC: Jedd Fisch · Balanced
2025Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning
2026Middle Tennessee1-1HC: Derek Mason · Pass-heavy, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 3.0 REC/g, 30.5 YDS/g, 10.2 YPR, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Derek Mason
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Conference USA
Based on 2025: #39 of 52 Conference USA WRs
How the All-Conference USA estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 28 | 216 | 7.7 | 5 | -- |
| 2023 | Arizona | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 0 | -- |
| 2022 | Arizona | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 39 | 304 | 7.8 | 6 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
1 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 24-point win at home against Murray State.
With R. Gagliano — 200 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 25 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Lacy — 8 rec · 118 yds · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Wins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Middle Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Middle Tennessee
Returning around him
- 32% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 1 Middle Tennessee player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (20 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Middle Tennessee · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #109 · 2026 recruiting class #119
DNA match
Player DNA
Jump-Ball Target
Wins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Craig Burt Jr.’s 2023 season.
71%match
Matches Craig on
Total EPA (college ability)
EPA / play (adj)
Height
Differs from Craig on
TD rate (higher)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Benjamin Omayebu’s path through Tarleton State.
Matches Benjamin on
Yards per reception
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Nic Anderson's junior season at LSU (2025).
73%match
Matches Nic on
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Height
Differs from Nic on
EPA / play (adj) (lower)
Reception volume (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like AJ Jones
Background
Honors • 2025: MTSU Offensive Player of the Week 11/30 2025 (r-Junior) • Played in all 12 games and had seven starts • Finished the year with 28 receptions for 216 yards and five touchdowns • Had four or more receptions four times • Had five receptions for 22 yards against Missouri State • Regist...
The receiver room · Middle Tennessee
- #3Cam'Ron Lacy529 receiving yards · 2025
- #6AJ Jones216 receiving yards · 2025
- #89Landon Collins187 receiving yards · 2025
- #19Kason Stokes22 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Markus Allen7 receiving yards · 2025
10 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology