Ca'Lil Valentine, Illinois RB: the 2026 season story
Ca'Lil Valentine is a running back for Illinois (Big Ten). He ranks 220th of 575 running backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every running 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 running back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Ca'Lil Valentine's strongest measure is receiving yards per game at 10, 105th of 299 (the average is 9). His weakest is touchdowns per game at 0.2, 247th of 299 (the average is 0.5).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His rush yards per game, 46, ranks 136th among 299 ranked running backs.
Against every running 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 running backs he sits, on average, in the 60th percentile for volume, 56th for efficiency and 20th 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 5 games, Ca'Lil Valentine's best came in week 1 against UAB and his quietest in week 3 against Southern Illinois.
When it matters
Why it matters. Third downs, the red zone and games against good teams are where drives and seasons are decided.
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 running back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Ca'Lil Valentine is 162nd of 299 FBS running backs and 23rd of 42 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Tyrese Woodgett of Georgia Southern, 0.01 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 3 we have.
Running 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 Cam Settles of Arkansas.
