Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 24-31@ West Virginia | 3 | 47 | 15.7 | 0 | 19 | Season-high 47 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 45-7vs Fordham | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 | 26 | |
| Total | 4 | 73 | 20.9 | 0 | 26 |
#3
Tristian Gardner
Sophomore wide receiver for Coastal Carolina. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 180 lb · Dallas, TX · Waxahachie
CFB Index 50 · #229 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceTransferred Missouri State → Coastal Carolina 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
73
receiving yards · 2026
4 catches · 18.3 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 rec, 47 yds, at West Virginia
The play that turned itSwung Missouri State from 39% to 99% to win.Missouri State at Liberty · 21-17
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 wide receiver for Coastal Carolina. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Missouri State in 2025.
- Transferred from Missouri State to Coastal Carolina in 2026.
Tristian Gardner
Moves the chains on third down. Across two seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Nick Petrino and Ryan Beard. The receipt on tape: 47 rec yds, 3 receptions against West Virginia, Week 1, 2026.
73 REC YDS · 4 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
The week the volume broke through — put up 80 yds at Liberty.Liberty · W 21-172025
202512 games
- Signed with Missouri Stateout of Waxahachie
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Jeremiah Johnson
Coastal Carolina
2026era →
Ryan Beard
Coastal Carolina
Coaching transition mid-career: Jeremiah Johnson → Ryan Beard. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Coastal Carolina
2025Missouri State
2026Coastal Carolina
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Missouri State7-6HC: Nick Petrino · Balanced
2026Coastal Carolina1-1HC: Ryan Beard · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (89th percentile). Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 REC/g, 36.5 YDS/g, 20.9 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Beard
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 | Coastal Carolina | 4 | 73 | 18.2 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Missouri State | 30 | 465 | 15.5 | 6 | -- |
| Career | 34 | 538 | 15.8 | 6 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 45–7
vs Fordham
1 rec · 26 yds
Dominant 38-point win at home against Fordham.
With R. Podesta — 39 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 48 LONG · D. Bailey — 203 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 30.0 · 21 rush yds (4 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jaray Jenkins’s 2022 season.
Matches Jaray on
Height
TD rate
Differs from Jaray on
Class year (lower)
Weight (lower)
EPA / play (adj) (lower)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Darien Chase’s path through Portland State.
Matches Darien on
Yards per reception
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Justin Stevenson's freshman season at Wyoming (2024).
70%match
Matches Justin on
Yards / reception
Height
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Justin on
Class year (lower)
Reception volume (higher)
Background
2025 (Freshman Year) - Missouri State Played in the first 12 games of the season Caught 30 passes for 465 yards and six touchdowns Set the program's freshman record for touchdown receptions in a season Ranked fourth on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards Posted five catches for 80...
The receiver room · Coastal Carolina
- #3Tristian Gardner465 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Clayton Coppock311 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Robby Washington278 receiving yards · 2025
- Karmello English185 receiving yards · 2025
- #6Krosse Johnson9 receiving yards · 2025
9 more on the roster · Coastal Carolina team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology