Cole Pennington, Gardner-Webb QB: the 2026 season story
Cole Pennington is a senior quarterback for Gardner-Webb (OVC). He ranks 204th of 365 quarterbacks in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every quarterback on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Cole Pennington's strongest measure is pass yards per game at 195, 80th of 181 (the average is 179). His weakest is rush yards per game at -6, 169th of 181 (the average is 20).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His pass yards per game, 195, ranks 80th among 181 ranked quarterbacks.
Against every quarterback
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of quarterback he is. Among ranked quarterbacks he sits, on average, in the 32nd percentile for volume, 19th for efficiency and 46th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 7 games, Cole Pennington's best came in week 4 at Marshall and his quietest in week 2 at Liberty.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Cole Pennington is 62nd of 184 FCS quarterbacks and 3rd of 11 in the OVC. Next up nationally is Da'Jean Golmond of Norfolk State, 0.03 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2025 at Gardner-Webb, 210th of 389 quarterbacks.
Quarterbacks like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Noah Kim of Eastern Michigan.
