Jaylen King, Mercer QB: the 2026 season story
Jaylen King is a senior quarterback for Mercer (Southern). He ranks 292nd 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. Jaylen King's strongest measure is rush yards per game at 12, 103rd of 181 (the average is 20). His weakest is yards per attempt at 4.3, 177th of 181 (the average is 7.3).
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, 78, ranks 169th 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 26th percentile for volume, 19th for efficiency and 12th 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 8 games, Jaylen King's best came in week 1 against Presbyterian and his quietest in week 2 against Furman.
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. Jaylen King is 120th of 184 FCS quarterbacks and 9th of 14 in the Southern. Next up nationally is Gabarri Johnson of Samford, 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. His best season by the Player Index was 2023 at Gardner-Webb, 295th of 375 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 Nelson Layne of North Carolina Central.
