Jayden Shipps, Maryland DB: the 2026 season story
Jayden Shipps is a sophomore defensive back for Maryland (Big Ten). He ranks 1138th 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. Jayden Shipps's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.09, 353rd of 921 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is yards per catch on his record at 14.8, 769th of 921 (the average is 11.6).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.5, ranks 703rd 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 24th percentile for volume, 24th for efficiency and 45th 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 7 games, Jayden Shipps's best came in week 1 against Hampton and his quietest in week 3 against Virginia Tech.
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. Jayden Shipps is 671st of 921 FBS defensive backs and 87th of 111 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Leroy Bryant of Stanford, 0.00 ahead on the index.
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 Matai Tomas of Houston Christian.
