Maurki James, Old Dominion RB: the 2026 season story
Maurki James is a sophomore running back for Old Dominion (Sun Belt). He ranks 496th 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. Maurki James's strongest measure is touchdowns per game at 0.5, 138th of 299 (the average is 0.5). His weakest is rush yards per game at 15, 298th of 299 (the average is 49).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His rush yards per game, 15, ranks 298th 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 15th percentile for volume, 7th for efficiency and 37th 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 8 games, Maurki James's best came in week 7 against Georgia Southern and his quietest in week 10 at Coastal Carolina.
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. Maurki James is 295th of 299 FBS running backs and 30th of 31 in the Sun Belt. Next up nationally is Michael Allen of East Carolina, 0.01 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 Old Dominion, 456th 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 Omar Mbakwe of San Diego.
