#22

Caden Knighten

RB · Baylor · Fr. · #22

Returning to Baylor for 2026
Fr. · Wynnewood, Okla. → Pauls Valley HS
via baylorbears.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Caden Knighten

RB · Baylor · Fr · #22

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★
#473 national
CFB
College
Baylor
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Baylor5-7HC: Dave Aranda · Pass-leaning, fast tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Baylor1044694.51--
Career1044694.51--
SeasonTeam
2025Baylor1113412.21--
Career1113412.21--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025

W 48–45

at SMU

26 rush yds (7 car)

Edged out SMU on the road in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Does a little of everything without one standout trait.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Baylor

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Running back · Baylor

Returning around him

  • 82% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • 2 Baylor players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -1 net (31 in / 32 out)

2026 Award watch

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

Baylor · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #35 · 2026 recruiting class #57

DNA match

Player DNA

Balanced Back

Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.

RB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Shadrick Byrd’s 2021 season.

Charlotte · 2021

#2

Micah Ford

Stanford · 2025

72%
#3

Owen Allen

Air Force · 2024

71%
#4

Casey Filkins

Stanford · 2022

68%
#5

Shadrick Byrd

Charlotte · 2022

67%

Matches Shadrick on

Weight
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Rush TD rate

Differs from Shadrick on

Receiving share (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Owen Allen's freshman season at Air Force (2024).

Owen Allen

75%match

Air Force · 2024

#2

Aaron Dumas

New Mexico · 2021

75%
#3

Dajon Richard

Southern Miss · 2021

72%
#4

Christian Clark

Texas · 2025

70%
#5

Carlos Davis

South Alabama · 2020

68%

Matches Owen on

Weight
Total rush EPA (college ability)
EPA / carry (adj)

Differs from Owen on

Class year (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #553

Final rank
#1104
Avg #915.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #553 this season.

Background

2025 (Freshman): Played in 10 games as the primary reserve at running back … Toted it 104 times for 469 yards and a TD, adding 11 catches for 134 yards and a score … Had six carries for 29 yards and a four-yard TD catch vs. Auburn … Had seven carries for 26 yards with two catches for 11 yards at...

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