Ja'Vin Simpkins, UAB RB: the 2026 season story
Ja'Vin Simpkins is a junior running back for UAB (American Athletic). He ranks 337th 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. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Ja'Vin Simpkins's strongest measure is rush success rate at 60%, 35th of 299 (the average is 50%). His weakest is rush yards per game at 21, 289th of 299 (the average is 49).
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 rush yards per game, 21, ranks 289th among 299 ranked running backs.
Against every running back
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of running back he is. Among ranked running backs he sits, on average, in the 8th percentile for volume, 61st for efficiency and 23rd 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 9 games, Ja'Vin Simpkins's best came in week 7 against East Carolina and his quietest in week 5 against Samford.
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. Ja'Vin Simpkins is 230th of 299 FBS running backs and 24th of 30 in the American Athletic. Next up nationally is Kedrick Reescano of Arizona, 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 Coastal Carolina, 372nd of 670 running backs.
Running 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 Julius Gillick of Fresno State.
