#80

Hayden Eligon II

WR · Northwestern · R-Jr. · #80

Returning to Northwestern for 2026
R-Jr. · Lakewood, Calif. → Los Alamitos
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Hayden Eligon II

WR · Northwestern · So · #80

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Northwestern
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Northwestern4-8HC: David Braun · Balanced, slow tempo
2025Northwestern7-6HC: David Braun · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Northwestern3752114.13--
2024Northwestern48320.80--
Career4160414.73--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 7 · 2025

W 22–21

at Penn State

2 rec · 7 yds

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 1 on the road.

How he plays

Play style

Beats you over the top.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Northwestern

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Northwestern

Returning around him

  • 68% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 2 Northwestern players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +9 net (17 in / 8 out)

2026 Award watch

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

Northwestern · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #57 · 2026 recruiting class #52

DNA match

Player DNA

Deep Threat

Stretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jahdae Walker’s 2023 season.

Texas A&M · 2023

#2

Chase Sowell

Iowa State · 2025

81%
#3

Dalevon Campbell

Nevada · 2023

81%
#4

Leland Smith

San José State · 2025

80%
#5

Corey Gammage

Marshall · 2022

78%

Matches Jahdae on

Yards / reception
EPA / play (adj)
TD rate

Differs from Jahdae on

Class year (lower)

Through 1 college season, his career arc tracks closest to Will Vereen’s path through South Carolina State.

Will Vereen

100%match

South Carolina State · 2021

#2

Beau Kelly

Portland State · 2022

100%
#3

Tre Nixon

UCF · 2020

NFL Rd 7
99%
#4

Joseph Griffin Jr.

Boston College · 2023

98%
#5

Dacari Collins

Louisville · 2025

95%

Matches Will on

Yards per reception

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Leland Smith's sophomore season at San José State (2025).

Leland Smith

82%match

San José State · 2025

#2

Isiah Canion

Georgia Tech · 2025

79%
#3

Devon Williams

Oregon · 2021

73%
#4

Cornelius Johnson

Michigan · 2021

NFL Rd 7
72%
#5

Cole Weaver

Miami (OH) · 2025

72%

Matches Leland on

TD rate
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)

Differs from Leland on

Class year (lower)

Player DNA

Players who play like Hayden Eligon II

#1

Joseph Griffin Jr.

Boston College · 2022

98%
#2

Dacari Collins

Clemson · 2021

95%
#3

Michael Jefferson

Louisiana · 2021

95%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #495

Final rank
#753
Avg #667.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #495 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2024–2025
83.02024
5212025

+528%

Up 528% from first season to most-recent.

Background

2025 Sophomore: Played in 12 games with 10 starts … Posted career highs in receptions (37), receiving yards (521) receiving touchdowns (three) and longest reception (38 yards) … Became the first NU underclassman wide receiver with 3+ receiving touchdowns in a season since Riley Lees scored three...

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