Jekail Middlebrook, Virginia RB: the 2026 season story
Jekail Middlebrook is a senior running back for Virginia (ACC). He ranks 101st 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. Jekail Middlebrook's strongest measure is rush success rate at 58%, 48th of 299 (the average is 50%). His weakest is runs of 10+ at 10%, 232nd of 299 (the average is 13%).
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, 64, ranks 71st 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 68th percentile for volume, 72nd for efficiency and 45th 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, Jekail Middlebrook's best came in week 8 against Duke and his quietest in week 1 against NC State.
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. Jekail Middlebrook is 89th of 299 FBS running backs and 14th of 36 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Ahmad Miller of Syracuse, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 3 we have.
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 Rodney Fields Jr. of Kansas State.
