Eli Paulson, St. Thomas WR: the 2026 season story
Eli Paulson is a senior wide receiver for St. Thomas (Pioneer). He ranks 864th of 988 wide receivers in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every wide receiver 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. Eli Paulson's strongest measure is catch rate at 69%, 99th of 485 (the average is 61%). His weakest is yards per target at 4.0, 481st of 485 (the average is 8.2).
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, 13, ranks 478th among 485 ranked wide receivers.
Against every wide receiver
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of wide receiver he is. Among ranked wide receivers he sits, on average, in the 8th percentile for volume, 42nd for efficiency and 9th 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, Eli Paulson's best came in week 4 against San Diego and his quietest in week 1 at North Dakota.
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. Eli Paulson is 403rd of 503 FCS wide receivers and 38th of 45 in the Pioneer. Next up nationally is Jahzae Kimbrough of South Carolina State, 0.00 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 2025 at St. Thomas-Minnesota, 738th of 1,095 wide receivers.
Wide receivers 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 Jeremiah Colclough of Wagner.
