Caleb Baczek, Valparaiso DL: the 2026 season story
Caleb Baczek is a freshman defensive lineman for Valparaiso (Pioneer). He ranks 730th of 1,709 defensive linemen in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive lineman 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 lineman, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Caleb Baczek's strongest measure is sacks per game at 0.18, 378th of 892 (the average is 0.19). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.00, 372nd of 892 (the average is 0.08).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.0, ranks 584th among 892 ranked defensive linemen.
Against every defensive lineman
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 linemen he sits, on average, in the 35th percentile for volume and 39th 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 7 games, Caleb Baczek's best came in week 8 against Presbyterian and his quietest in week 5 at Morehead State.
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 lineman on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Caleb Baczek is 256th of 817 FCS defensive linemen and 19th of 73 in the Pioneer. Next up nationally is Gio Divers of Chicago State, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive linemen 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 Kaleb Coleman of Louisiana Tech.
