Max Mustell, Air Force DB: the 2026 season story
Max Mustell is a sophomore defensive back for Air Force (Mountain West). He ranks 57th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Max Mustell's strongest measure is yards per catch on his record at 0.0, 1st of 921 (the average is 11.6). Even his lowest-ranked one is good: interceptions per game at 0.10, 301st of 921 (the average is 0.08).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 4.1, ranks 300th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 68th percentile for volume, 95th for efficiency and 79th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Max Mustell's best came in week 7 against UNLV and his quietest in week 6 at Northern Illinois.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Max Mustell is 50th of 921 FBS defensive backs and 5th of 66 in the Mountain West. Next up nationally is Caleb Dobbs of Eastern Michigan, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Braden Turner of Northwestern.
