Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-14vs Miami (OH) | 11 | 39 | 3.5 | 0 | 14 | Season-high 39 yds |
| Total | 11 | 39 | 3.5 | 0 | 14 |
#25
Ja'Kyrian Turner
Sophomore running back for Pittsburgh. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′9″ · 195 lb · Wildwood, FL · South Sumter
CFB Index 61 · #64 of 326 RBsHigh confidenceReturning to Pittsburgh 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
39
rushing yards · 2026
3.5 per carry · 4 catches
1 game into 2026 so far -- Backed by 21 car · 201 yds · 1 TD -- top 1% rushing yards game. -- Best game: 39 rush yds, 69 rec yds, vs Miami (OH)
Swing playSwung Stanford from 35% to 58% to win.Pittsburgh at Stanford · 35-20
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Pittsburgh. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Pittsburgh in 2025.
Ja'Kyrian Turner
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. This is his second year in the same backfield at Pittsburgh. His first career honor landed in 2025: ACC Rookie Player of the Week. The receipt: 69 rec yds, 39 rush yds against Miami (OH) — Week 1, 2026.
39 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 11 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
202512 games
- Signed with Pittsburgh3-star out of South Sumter
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Pittsburgh
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Pat Narduzzi, all balanced offenses — 10-5 over that span.
2025Pittsburgh8-5HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
2026Pittsburgh2-0HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: rec yards (100th percentile). 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 1 game: 39.0 YDS/g, 3.5 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Narduzzi
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
In the mix for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #9 of 38 ACC RBs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. 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 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 39 | 3.5 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 140 | 747 | 5.3 | 7 | -- |
| Career | 151 | 786 | 5.2 | 7 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 69 | 17.2 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 25 | 150 | 6.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 29 | 219 | 7.6 | 1 | -- |
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Pittsburgh
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Pittsburgh
Returning around him
- 40% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #44
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Dominic Knicely’s 2025 season.
72%match
Matches Dominic on
Weight
Yards / carry
EPA / carry (adj)
Differs from Dominic on
Yards / reception (lower)
Total rush EPA (college ability) (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Dominic Knicely's freshman season at Coastal Carolina (2025).
75%match
Matches Dominic on
Yards / carry
Weight
EPA / carry (adj)
Differs from Dominic on
Yards / reception (lower)
Total rush EPA (college ability) (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Ja'Kyrian Turner
Background
2025: Enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in January 2025 following his early graduation from South Sumter…started five of 12 games for the Panthers as a true freshman…added a team-leading 140 rushes for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 25 receptions for 150 yards…against Stanford,...
The backfield · Pittsburgh
- #25Ja'Kyrian Turner747 rushing yards · 2025
- #29La'Vell Wright471 rushing yards · 2025
- #5Justin Cook31 rushing yards · 2025
- #34Ethan Shine1 game · 2025
- #27Jaylin Brown1 game · 2026
2 more on the roster · Pittsburgh team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology