Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-14vs Murray State | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Wk 2 | L 26-28@ Marshall | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 6 | Season-high 8 yds |
| Total | 3 | 10 | 3.0 | 0 | 6 |
#29
DJ Taylor
Sophomore running back for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 209 lb · Murfreesboro, TN · Riverdale
Returning to Middle Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
10
rushing yards · 2026
3.3 per carry · 1 catches
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rush yds, vs Murray State
The play that turned itSwung Western Kentucky from 57% to 98% to win.Middle Tennessee at Western Kentucky · 42-26
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Middle Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Middle Tennessee in 2025.
DJ Taylor
He has spent two seasons in the Middle Tennessee backfield. One game to point at: 11 rec yds, 8 rush yds against Marshall — Week 2, 2026.
10 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 3 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20257 games
- Signed with Middle Tennessee3-star out of Riverdale
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Middle Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Derek Mason — 4-10 over that span.
2025Middle Tennessee3-9HC: Derek Mason · Pass-leaning
2026Middle Tennessee1-1HC: Derek Mason · Pass-heavy, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 5.0 YDS/g, 3.0 YPC, 0.0 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.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 26 | 199 | 7.7 | 2 | -- |
| Career | 29 | 209 | 7.2 | 2 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Middle Tennessee | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Middle Tennessee | 7 | 54 | 7.7 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 8 | 65 | 8.1 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 38–14
vs Murray State
2 rush yds (1 car)
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
2026 Outlook
Middle Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · 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
Background
2025 (Freshman) • Played in 10 games • Finished the year with 199 yards rushing on 26 attempts and two touchdowns while adding seven catches for 54 yards and a score • Had 93 offensive snaps for the season and had a PFF grade of 70.4 to rank fourth-best among offensive players • Played in his fir...
The backfield · Middle Tennessee
- #29DJ Taylor199 rushing yards · 2025
- #8Antonio Martin129 rushing yards · 2025
- #31Austin Clemons10 rushing yards · 2025
- #9Terrence Brownno box-score line yet
- #21Ashton Jonesno box-score line yet
3 more on the roster · Middle Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology