Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 16-17@ Auburn | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 2 | W 44-3vs Prairie View A&M | 3 | 67 | 22.3 | 1 | 33 | |
| Wk 3 | W 36-19vs Louisiana Tech | 2 | 79 | 39.5 | 2 | 43 | Season-high 79 yds |
| Total | 5 | 146 | 30.9 | 3 | 43 |
#15
Jayden McGowan
Senior wide receiver for Baylor. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
5′7″ · 187 lb · Laurens, SC · Laurens 55 HS
CFB Index 43 · #271 of 497 WRsHigh confidenceTransferred Charlotte → Baylor 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
146
receiving yards · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rec, 79 yds, 2 TD, vs Louisiana Tech
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior wide receiver for Baylor. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Vanderbilt in 2022.
- Transferred from Charlotte to Baylor in 2026.
Jayden McGowan
Moves the chains on third down. Four head coaches in five seasons, at four different programs. His first career honor landed in 2024: All-ACC. The receipt: 79 rec yds, 2 receptions against Louisiana Tech — Week 3, 2026.
146 REC YDS · 5 REC · 3 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
The week the volume broke through — put up 118 yds vs Elon.Elon · W 42-312022
202212 games
- Signed with Vanderbilt3-star out of Laurens District 55
20247 games
- Entered the portal
- All-ACC
2025
The snaps went the other way.
- Entered the portal
20263 games
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
4 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2026
Baylor
Played his entire career under Dave Aranda.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Baylor
2025Charlotte
2026Baylor
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Baylor | 5 | 146 | 29.2 | 3 | -- |
| 2025 | Charlotte | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2024 | Boston College | 2 | -- | 0.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | Vanderbilt | 36 | 383 | 10.6 | 0 | -- |
| 2022 | Vanderbilt | 44 | 453 | 10.3 | 3 | -- |
| Career | 88 | 989 | 11.2 | 6 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Baylor | 1 | 13 | -- | 28 | -- |
| 2025 | Charlotte | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Boston College | 2 | 13 | 97 | 33 | -- |
| 2023 | Vanderbilt | 19 | 108 | 461 | 34 | -- |
| 2022 | Vanderbilt | 14 | 51 | 384 | -- | -- |
| Career | 36 | 185 | 942 | 95 | -- |
Game log
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 44–3
13 rush yds (1 car) · 1 TD
Dominant 41-point win at home against Prairie View A&M.
With N. Bennett — 301 yds · 2 TD · 2 INT · QBR 29.6 · 13 rush yds (2 car) · 1 TD · C. Knighten — 66 rush yds (12 car) · 1 TD
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +79 receiving yards, +2 catches, +2 receiving TD.
Season context · Team result + system
2022Vanderbilt5-7HC: Clark Lea · Run-leaning
2023Vanderbilt2-10HC: Clark Lea · Balanced, slow tempo
2024Boston College7-6HC: Bill O'Brien · Run-heavy
2025Charlotte1-11HC: Tim Albin · Balanced, slow tempo
2026Baylor2-1HC: Dave Aranda · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (100th percentile). Strength: rush tds (94th percentile). Concern: receptions (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
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 2.5 | 73.0 | 30.9 | 1.5 |
First half vs Second half
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 1.7 | 48.7 | 30.9 | 1.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dave Aranda
Pass share
48.2%
119 pass / 128 run
Plays / game
82.3
3 games
Team sack rate
4.6%
131 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced, fast tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
Starter
Returning starter at receiver for a 5-7 Baylor team that went -1 in the portal.
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2023 production profile sits closest to Jah'Marae Sheread’s 2020 season.
76%match
Matches Jah'Marae on
Height
Reception volume
Yards / reception
Differs from Jah'Marae on
TD rate (lower)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Jah'Marae Sheread’s path through Florida A&M.
96%match
#2
Elijah Steward
93%
#4
Derick Eugene
92%
Matches Jah'Marae on
Height
Yards per reception
Weight
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Phillip Brooks III's sophomore season at Kansas State (2021).
75%match
Matches Phillip on
Total EPA (college ability)
Height
Weight
Differs from Phillip on
TD rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Jayden McGowan
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #185
Peaked at #185 this season.
Background
Previous Schools: Spent the 2025 season at Charlotte, the 2024 season at Boston College and the 2022-23 seasons at Vanderbilt. 2025: Started the season opener vs. App State and had a seven-yard catch before suffering a season-ending injury. 2024: Played in 11 games at Boston College, with two…
The receiver room · Baylor
- #6Ashtyn Hawkins621 receiving yards · 2025
- #6Gavin Freeman481 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Drelon Miller159 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Jadon Porter85 receiving yards · 2025
- #15Jayden McGowan7 receiving yards · 2025
13 more on the roster · Baylor team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology