Jai Eugene Jr., Syracuse DB: the 2026 season story
Jai Eugene Jr. is a junior defensive back for Syracuse (ACC). He ranks 1805th 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. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Jai Eugene Jr.'s strongest measure is yards per catch on his record at 13.4, 668th of 921 (the average is 11.6). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.00, 795th of 921 (the average is 0.31).
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 tackles per game, 2.0, ranks 850th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive back he is. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 8th percentile for volume, 14th for efficiency and 1st 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 6 games, Jai Eugene Jr.'s best came in week 6 at Virginia and his quietest in week 7 against Louisville.
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. Jai Eugene Jr. is 911th of 921 FBS defensive backs and 106th of 106 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Martell Buchanan of Kent State, 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 2025 at Western Kentucky, 819th of 1,153 defensive backs.
Defensive backs 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 Jakobe Freeman of Tennessee State.
