Javon Gillespie, New Mexico State CB: the 2026 season story
Javon Gillespie is a junior defensive back for New Mexico State (Conference USA). He ranks 1599th 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. Javon Gillespie's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.11, 261st of 921 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is yards per catch on his record at 24.6, 916th 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, 1.8, ranks 885th 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 4th percentile for volume, 16th for efficiency and 43rd 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, Javon Gillespie's best came in week 6 at Florida International and his quietest in week 4 against New Mexico.
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. Javon Gillespie is 841st of 921 FBS defensive backs and 65th of 77 in Conference USA. Next up nationally is Chris Joines of Rutgers, 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 Tyson Grimm of Rhode Island.
