Jaivian Thomas, UCLA RB: the 2026 season story
Jaivian Thomas is a running back for UCLA (Big Ten). He ranks 222nd 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. Jaivian Thomas's strongest measure is rush success rate at 59%, 36th of 299 (the average is 50%). His weakest is rush yards per game at 30, 241st 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, 30, ranks 241st 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 20th percentile for volume, 72nd for efficiency and 47th 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, Jaivian Thomas's best came in week 3 against Purdue and his quietest in week 6 at Oregon.
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. Jaivian Thomas is 166th of 299 FBS running backs and 25th of 42 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Jaheim Merriweather of Troy, 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 2024 at California, 113th of 649 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 Trae'von Dunbar of South Alabama.
