L.J. Phillips Jr., Iowa RB: the 2026 season story
L.J. Phillips Jr. is a senior running back for Iowa (Big Ten). He ranks 280th 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. L.J. Phillips Jr.'s strongest measure is rush success rate at 51%, 146th of 299 (the average is 50%). His weakest is touchdowns per game at 0.0, 284th 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, 43, ranks 157th 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 41st percentile for volume, 43rd for efficiency and 16th 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 6 games, L.J. Phillips Jr.'s best came in week 10 at Northwestern and his quietest in week 1 against Northern 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. L.J. Phillips Jr. is 199th of 299 FBS running backs and 31st of 42 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Isaiah Mozee of Nebraska, 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. His best season by the Player Index was 2025 at South Dakota, 9th of 670 running backs.
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 Jordan Lovett of Troy.
