Cole Keller, James Madison TE: the 2026 season story
Cole Keller is a senior tight end for James Madison (Sun Belt). He ranks 25th of 305 tight ends in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every tight end 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 Keller's strongest measure is target success rate at 68%, 13th of 169 (the average is 51%). His weakest is target share at 10%, 71st of 169 (the average is 10%).
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 receiving yards per game, 35, ranks 32nd among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of tight end he is. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 70th percentile for volume, 85th for efficiency and 92nd 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 10 games, Cole Keller's best came in week 6 at Georgia Southern and his quietest in week 10 at Southern Miss.
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 Keller is 25th of 169 FBS tight ends and 2nd of 18 in the Sun Belt. Next up nationally is Luke Gilbert of Jacksonville State, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Tight ends 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 Daunte Bacheyie of Syracuse.
