Jaylen Pollard, Western Kentucky DB: the 2026 season story
Jaylen Pollard is a freshman defensive back for Western Kentucky (Conference USA). He ranks 1678th 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. Jaylen Pollard's strongest measure is yards per catch on his record at 8.2, 139th of 921 (the average is 11.6). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.00, 795th of 921 (the average is 0.31).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.5, ranks 716th 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 22nd percentile for volume, 43rd for efficiency and 1st 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 6 games, Jaylen Pollard's best came in week 10 at Middle Tennessee and his quietest in week 2 at Georgia.
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. Jaylen Pollard is 873rd of 921 FBS defensive backs and 69th of 77 in Conference USA. Next up nationally is Cam Richardson of Stanford, 0.00 ahead on the index.
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 Ja'Torian Mack of Western Carolina.
