Nolan Clayton, Villanova TE: the 2026 season story
Nolan Clayton is a junior tight end for Villanova (Patriot). He ranks 89th of 305 tight ends in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every tight end 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. Nolan Clayton's strongest measure is catch rate at 88%, 5th of 169 (the average is 67%). His weakest is touchdowns per game at 0.0, 127th of 169 (the average is 0.2).
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 receiving yards per game, 13, ranks 126th among 169 ranked tight ends.
Against every tight end
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of tight end he is. Among ranked tight ends he sits, on average, in the 31st percentile for volume, 79th 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 8 games, Nolan Clayton's best came in week 4 against Colgate and his quietest in week 7 at Fordham.
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. Nolan Clayton is 17th of 136 FCS tight ends and 1st of 14 in the Patriot. Next up nationally is Jadon Garza-Pender of Brown, 0.04 ahead on the index.
Tight ends 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 Larry Benton III of Abilene Christian.
