#12

AJ Padgett

QB · Rice · Jr. · #12

Returning to Rice for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

AJ Padgett

QB · Rice · Jr · #12

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1750 national
CFB
College
Rice
2022–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Rice5-8HC: Mike Bloomgren · Run-leaning
2023Rice6-7HC: Mike Bloomgren · Balanced, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023Rice7111760.7%7216.286124.8----
2022Rice397750.6%6348.251138.6----
Career11019456.7%1,3557.0137130.3----
SeasonTeam
2023Rice32140.42--
2022Rice31150.50--
Career63290.52--

How he plays

Play style

Operates within the system without forcing anything.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Rice

Updated May 27

2026 Depth chart

Returning starter

Quarterback · Rice

Returning around him

  • 75% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -2 net (20 in / 22 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Rice · Last season: 5-8 · Talent rank #106 · 2026 recruiting class #103

DNA match

Player DNA

Pocket Passer

Balanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile.

QB

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Ethan Hampton’s 2022 season.

Northern Illinois · 2022

#2

Andrew Marty

Northwestern · 2021

49%
#3

Jacob Sirmon

Central Michigan · 2021

47%
#4

Desmond Trotter

South Alabama · 2021

47%
#5

Cameron Friel

UNLV · 2021

43%

Matches Ethan on

Yards / attempt

Differs from Ethan on

EPA / dropback (adj) (lower)
Class year (lower)
Weight (higher)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Sam Noyer’s path through Oregon State.

Sam Noyer

87%match

Oregon State · 2021

#2

Grant Wilson

Old Dominion · 2024

85%
#3

Zach Calzada

Kentucky · 2025

84%
#4

Hunter Simmons

Wisconsin · 2025

84%
#5

Roman Gagliano

Middle Tennessee · 2025

82%

Matches Sam on

Yards per attempt
Completion %
Height
20222023

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Joe Pesansky's sophomore season at Florida International (2025).

Joe Pesansky

55%match

Florida International · 2025

#2

Ethan Hampton

Northern Illinois · 2022

54%
#3

Andrew Marty

Northwestern · 2021

52%
#4

Grant Wilson

Old Dominion · 2024

50%
#5

Desmond Trotter

South Alabama · 2021

50%

Matches Joe on

Height

Differs from Joe on

Weight (higher)
Rush yards / carry (lower)
Completion % (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #1526

Final rank
#2655
Avg #2203.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #1526 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · passing yards

2022–2023
6342022
7212023

+14%

Modest growth (14%) across the multi-season window.