CFB Zeitgeist Score
75
Solid starter in the position cohort. Carried by rush yards at the 89th percentile.
Jalen Buckley
Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.
1,003 RUSH YDS · 9 RUSH TD · 179 CARRIES
2026 Outlook
Returning to Western Michigan for 2026
2026 Depth chart
Returning starter
Running back · Western Michigan
Returning around him
- 100% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- Transfer portal: +1 net (14 in / 13 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Western Michigan · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #105 · 2026 recruiting class #104
RB · WESTERN MICHIGAN · MID-AMERICAN
Jalen Buckley
- 3
- #6
- 5-11 | 210 lb
- Aurora, IL
Heisman Heat
#3890
<1% win probability
Fan Belief
Awaiting
Player-specific FI not yet ingested. Falls back to team mood below.
Respect Gap
Awaiting
Coming online with player-level FI.
Reality Gap
Awaiting
Coming online with player-level FI.
ACCOLADE PROBABILITY
Heisman
<1%
TOP RB AWARD
Doak Walker
—
CONSENSUS
All-American
—
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR07 · Impact starter
Impact starter. Producing measurable value above replacement.
Not on team2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career arc · Season-by-season Standing
3 seasons on the ladder
2022
Western Michigan · RB
—
★
2023
Western Michigan · RB
R09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
Recognized
2025
Western Michigan · RB
R09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
Recognized
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2022–2025+3615%
Up 3615% from first season to most-recent.
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Western Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Identity & Role
The durable bio layer: position, size, hometown, and roster role.
Recruiting Pedigree
How big the prospect was before college, and whether the later career arc beat that expectation.
| Class | Profile | Context |
|---|---|---|
| No recruiting profile is on file for this player. | ||
Transfer Arc
Portal movement changes role, context, and perception. This keeps that path in one place.
| Season | Move | Context |
|---|---|---|
| No transfer portal moves on file for this player. | ||
Heisman Lens · 2024 Season · Final
Where the player landed at the end of the listed season — final nowcast rank, win/finalist/ballot probabilities, and the cleanest official Heisman placement on file.
HIGH CONFIDENCE· through week 16Heisman Futures
Not yet listed on major futures markets.
Achievements
- Program Benchmark 5.5% Program Benchmark Season leader for the program at the player's position across the headline volume metric (passing yards / rushing yards / receiving yards). Held by 5.5% of the 2025 pool. Team leader in rushing yards (1003).
Selector Grid · 2025
AP—
FWAA—
AFCA—
WCFF—
SN—
SI—
Today’s Hot-Take
The Hot-Take engine fires when this player’s percentile profile crosses a defensible threshold (top 10% in a cohort, 100+ snap sample). When it’s quiet, the model is honoring its “must be defensible” rule.
Anti-Take
PENDINGThe contrarian read fires when the rules-engine detects a stat that complicates the Hot-Take. Quiet here means the model hasn’t found a defensible counter yet — not that one doesn’t exist.
The Room on Jalen Buckley
Fan sentiment ·
Belief Meter
50
Mixed Sentiment
Top Take
“”
Trajectory
Per-cohort trajectory lands when historical bucket data is aggregated.
Cohort divergence map
- Own fans · n=1
- National · n=2
Rival Radar
How rival fanbases talk about Jalen Buckley
No rival-bucket mentions in the current season.
Signature Story
Awaiting candidate metric
He hasn't written his page yet — we'll start filling it in when there are enough snaps to rank against his peers.
Signature Moment
No signature moment on the ledger yet.
Returns once this player puts together a multi-game body of work — single-game flashes alone don't clear the bar.
Season Pace · Projection
Where the rushing totals stand
Through 13g
1,003Rush yards
179Carries
9Rush TDs
Per game
77.2Rush yards
14Carries
1Rush TDs
Final
1,003Rush yards
179Carries
9Rush TDs
✓ Hit 750-yard season · finished with 1,003.
✓ Hit 1,000-yard season · finished with 1,003.
Why the honors trail matters
The fast read on the thing that makes this player more than a generic stat line.
The useful clue on this card is not just the Heisman rank, but the broader honors spine. Jalen Buckley already has 2 loaded recognition items, which helps distinguish a player who is merely productive from one who is already earning selector-level validation.
2025 Season · Final
Traditional stats first. Advanced context underneath.
Last season
RB season snapshot
2025 season snapshot | final
2025 season snapshot | finalData: CFBD player stats + local Heisman modelPeer context: same position + same level
Player identity What kind of player is this?
30-second read
What kind of player is this?
Workhorse against FBS RB peers.
2025 Season · Final
2025 season snapshot | final
Rushing
CAR
179 95th
YDS
1,003 95th
YPC
5.6 77th
TD
9 94th
Receiving
REC
12 68th
YDS
75 61st
YPR
6.3 42nd
TD
1 89th
Game Log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 13 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 6-23@ Michigan State | 9 | 21 | 2.3 | 0 | 12 | 174-yard day |
| Wk 2 | L 30-33vs North Texas | 30 | 112 | 3.7 | 0 | 26 | |
| Wk 3 | L 0-38@ Illinois | 6 | 13 | 2.2 | 0 | 7 | |
| Wk 4 | W 14-13vs Toledo | 11 | 21 | 1.9 | 0 | 6 | |
| Wk 6 | W 21-3@ Massachusetts | 12 | 60 | 5.0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Wk 7 | W 42-0vs Ball State | 6 | 11 | 1.8 | 1 | 7 | |
| Wk 9 | L 17-26@ Miami (OH) | 10 | 45 | 4.5 | 0 | 12 | |
| Wk 10 | W 24-21vs Central Michigan | 14 | 68 | 4.9 | 1 | 15 | |
| Wk 12 | W 17-13vs Ohio | 14 | 82 | 5.9 | 1 | 13 | |
| Wk 13 | W 35-19@ Northern Illinois | 24 | 133 | 5.5 | 2 | 16 | |
| Wk 14 | W 31-21@ Eastern Michigan | 16 | 70 | 4.4 | 1 | 25 | |
| Wk 15 | W 23-13vs Miami (OH) | 19 | 193 | 10.2 | 2 | 67 | Season-high 193 yds |
| Bowl | W 41-6vs Kennesaw State | 8 | 174 | 21.8 | 1 | 65 | |
| Total | 179 | 1003 | 5.7 | 9 | 67 |
Season-by-season tables Career rows + per-season box score
Traditional history
Traditional Stats
Season rows up top, career context at the bottom.
Season context · Team result + system
2022Western Michigan5-7HC: Tim Lester · Run-leaning
2023Western Michigan4-8HC: Lance Taylor · Run-leaning
2025Western Michigan10-4HC: Lance Taylor · Run-heavy
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Michigan | 179 | 1,003 | 5.6 | 9 | -- |
| 2023 | Western Michigan | 189 | 997 | 5.3 | 10 | -- |
| 2022 | Western Michigan | 9 | 27 | 3.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 3 loaded seasons | 377 | 2,027 | 5.4 | 19 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Michigan | 12 | 75 | 6.2 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Western Michigan | 18 | 161 | 8.9 | 0 | -- |
| 2022 | Western Michigan | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 3 loaded seasons | 30 | 236 | 7.9 | 1 | -- |
Advanced layer Usage, value, and context
Advanced metrics second
Advanced Metrics
Usage, value, and opponent-adjusted context.
Opponent-adjusted rushing value. It helps separate empty volume from carries that actually move the scoreboard.
How much of the team's offense flows through this back once rushing work and receiving work are combined.
Every percentile is compared against players at the same position and level, so an FBS quarterback is judged against FBS quarterbacks, not the whole sport.
The top tables stick to the stats fans already know from broadcasts and box scores. Advanced context is pushed underneath instead of replacing the basics.
Open full stat explorer
| Group | Metric | Value | Rank | Pct | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing | Rushing yards | 1,003 | #39/735 | 95th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Rush TD | 9 | #43/739 | 94th pct | Scoringvs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Yards / carry | 5.6 | #172/735 | 77th pct | Efficiencyvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receptions | 12 | #180/552 | 68th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving yards | 75 | #215/548 | 61st pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Value | Rushing WEPA | +0.04 | #309/362 | 15th pct | Opponent-adjusted rushing value | 166 weighted playsvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Role share | 21.2% | #78/738 | 90th pct | Share of team offensevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Carries | 179 | #40/739 | 95th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Rushing LONG | 67 | #72/733 | 90th pct | Metricvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving LONG | 34 | #102/540 | 81st pct | Metricvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Yards / catch | 6.3 | #320/548 | 42nd pct | Efficiencyvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving TD | 1 | #60/552 | 89th pct | Scoringvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Rush share | 29.3% | #130/738 | 83rd pct | Ground-game usagevs FBS RB |
| Usage | Standard-down usage | 25.4% | #72/738 | 90th pct | Base-situation sharevs FBS RB |
| Usage | 2nd-down usage | 23.5% | #59/738 | 92nd pct | Middle-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | 1st-down usage | 22.6% | #102/738 | 86th pct | Early-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | 3rd-down usage | 16.6% | #55/738 | 93rd pct | Money-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Passing-down usage | 11.6% | #142/738 | 81st pct | Known-passing sharevs FBS RB |
| Usage | Pass share | 6.0% | #116/738 | 84th pct | Air-game usagevs FBS RB |
| Ball Security | Fumbles lost | 1 | #78/256 | 70th pct | Turnoversvs FBS RB |
Player Standing
Universal 17-step ladder. Tier pills below; accolade streams nested.
ALL-CONF HM
On-team2-deepStartingRecognizedEliteApex
ALL-CONF HM · Rung 9 of 16
Why he’s here
All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started.
What moves him up
A best-at-position run lifts to 1st team.
What moves him down
A back-end conference finish drops out of the honor list.
Accolade streams
Status—Awaiting tracker
Heisman model tracks the top FBS contenders weekly; this player hasn't entered the watch list yet.
Splits · Per-game
2025 season · 13 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home7g | 94.4 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
| Road6g | 57.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 |
Win vs Loss
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins9g | 90.2 | 6.8 | 1.0 |
| Losses4g | 47.8 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-77g | 58.9 | 5.5 | 0.3 |
| Weeks 8+6g | 98.5 | 5.9 | 1.2 |
Pocket and defense-quality (clean vs. pressure) splits are coming soon.
Savant · Box-rate percentiles
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
75Solid starter
Elite: rush yards (88th). Strength: carries (88th).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Advanced Savant · RB · 2024
Percentile Card
Advanced opponent-adjusted percentile bars are coming soon for this player.
P4G5All FBS
Advanced Savant
Opponent-adjusted advanced metrics with a cohort filter.
wepa_rushing0.04Below (<p25) (n=178)
Peer Comparator · Fingerprint match
Three closest profiles by box-rate percentile
Jalen BuckleyWestern MichiganKaytron AllenPenn State· 89% simSieh BanguraOhio· 89% simEvan DickensLiberty· 87% sim
Rush yards
Carries
Rush TDs
Long run
Yards / carry
Receptions
Fumbles lost
Rec yards
Closest peers by overall box-score percentile profile at the same position.
Player DNA
The Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Montrell Johnson’s 2022 season.
Montrell Johnson
82%match
#2
Ikaika Ragsdale
79%
#3
Zachary Palmer-Smith
79%
#4
Harrison Waylee
79%
#5
Abu Sama III
78%
Matches Montrell on
Yards / carry
Weight
Receiving share
Differs from Montrell on
Yards / reception (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Christian Washington's senior season at San Diego State (2025).
Christian Washington
76%match
All-Mountain West
#2
Zylan Perry
75%
#3
Aidan Laughery
All-Big Ten
74%
#4
Zachary Palmer-Smith
74%
#5
Reggie Love III
72%
Matches Christian on
Yards / carry
Rush TD rate
Height
Differs from Christian on
Weight (higher)
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Taylor
Pass share
33.3%
304 pass / 609 run
Plays / game
65.2
14 games
OL sack rate (allowed)
9.3%
248 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025
2 coaches2022
Tim Lester
Western Michigan
2023era →
Lance Taylor
Western Michigan
2025
Lance Taylor
Western Michigan
Coaching transition mid-career: Tim Lester → Lance Taylor. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Bio · Recruiting · Transfer · Roster
Off-field context — switch tabs to drill into recruit profile, transfer arc, or roster timeline.
HometownAurora, IL
Height5'11"
Weight210 lb
Class3
PositionRB
Jersey6
No fields populated yet.
No fields populated yet.
Current teamWestern Michigan
ConferenceMid-American
Joined2025
Career arc4 season(s)
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2025)
All-MAC
Trophy Case · Detail
Every honor on the ledger, broken out by stream and selector.
2 all-conference honors
Conference-level recognition helps anchor whether a player is merely statistically loud or actually viewed as elite within his competitive lane.
Honors Timeline
Season-end distinction and week-by-week recognition on one timeline.
| Season | Honor | Scope | Team / Selector | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | All-MAC | all_conference | Western Michigan | MAC | RB |
| 2023 | All-MAC | all_conference | Western Michigan | MAC | RB |
Heisman By Year
Modeled rank and official finish by season.
| Season | Team | Role | Latest Model | Forecast | Win | Finalist | Official Finish | Points | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Western Michigan | RB3 | #3890 | #4132 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -- | -- | W16 snapshot | Mid-American |
| 2023 | Western Michigan | RB3 | #633 | #957 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -- | -- | W19 snapshot | Mid-American |
| 2022 | Western Michigan | RB3 | #3701 | #3882 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -- | -- | W20 snapshot | Mid-American |
Roster Timeline
Team, conference, and class by season.
| Season | Team | Conference | Pos | Class | Bio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Michigan | Mid-American | RB | 3 | No. 6 | 5-11 | 210 lb | Aurora, IL |
| 2024 | Western Michigan | Mid-American | RB | 3 | No. 6 | 5-11 | 210 lb | Aurora, IL |
| 2023 | Western Michigan | Mid-American | RB | 3 | No. 6 | 5-11 | 210 lb | Aurora, IL |
| 2022 | Western Michigan | Mid-American | RB | 3 | No. 6 | 5-11 | 210 lb | Aurora, IL |