Jayden Williams, UCF DB: the 2026 season story
Jayden Williams is a defensive back for UCF (Big 12). He ranks 598th 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. Jayden Williams's strongest measure is tackles per game at 5.3, 126th of 921 (the average is 3.7). His weakest is yards per catch on his record at 12.0, 523rd 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, 5.3, ranks 126th 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 86th percentile for volume, 43rd for efficiency and 55th 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 9 games, Jayden Williams's best came in week 1 against Bethune-Cookman and his quietest in week 2 at Pittsburgh.
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. Jayden Williams is 386th of 921 FBS defensive backs and 46th of 103 in the Big 12. Next up nationally is Donovan Faria of Georgia State, 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 2024 at Florida Atlantic, 233rd of 1,077 defensive backs.
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 Jakyri Jones of Georgia Southern.
