cfb zeitgeistZeitgeist
OFFSEASON · SUMMER 2026 · COMMITMENT SEASON
Heisman / Players / Baylin Brooks /Western Michigan

Baylin Brooks

WR · Western Michigan · So · #82

Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.

372 REC YDS · 27 REC · 0 REC TD

2026 RETURNINGReturning to Western Michigan for 2026

2026 Outlook

Returning to Western Michigan for 2026

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Western Michigan

Returning around him

  • 100% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +1 net (14 in / 13 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Western Michigan · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #105 · 2026 recruiting class #104

WR · WESTERN MICHIGAN · MID-AMERICAN

Baylin Brooks

  • 2
  • #82
  • 6-1 | 207 lb
  • Pasadena, CA

CFB Zeitgeist Score

37

Mid-pack in the position cohort. Carried by yards / catch at the 60th percentile.

Heisman Heat

#5300

<1% win probability

Fan Belief

Awaiting

Player-specific FI not yet ingested. Falls back to team mood below.

Respect Gap

Awaiting

Coming online with player-level FI.

Reality Gap

Awaiting

Coming online with player-level FI.

ACCOLADE PROBABILITY

Heisman

<1%

TOP WR AWARD

Biletnikoff

CONSENSUS

All-American

Player Standing · 17 rungs

Tier 2 · Starter

R06 · Starter

Starter. A locked-in starting role.

Not on team2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2023–2025
2612023
3722025

+43%

Up 43% from first season to most-recent.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1364 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2023–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Identity & Role

The durable bio layer: position, size, hometown, and roster role.

PositionWR
Class2
Jersey82
Measurements6-1 | 207 lb
HometownPasadena, CA
Primary teamWestern Michigan

Recruiting Pedigree

How big the prospect was before college, and whether the later career arc beat that expectation.

Top pedigree 3-star No. 1364 recruit
Composite rating 0.8511 HighSchool
Signed with San Diego State 2023
Origin Loyola Los Angeles, CA, USA
Class Profile Context
2023 3-star | 0.8511 No. 1364 recruit | HighSchool | San Diego State

Transfer Arc

Portal movement changes role, context, and perception. This keeps that path in one place.

Portal moves 1 Programs changed on file
Latest destination Western Michigan 2025
Transfer stars 3-star CFBD transfer rating context
Eligibility Immediate Jan 7, 2025
Season Move Context
2025 San Diego State -> Western Michigan 3-star | 0.8200 | Immediate

Heisman Lens · 2024 Season · Final

Where the player landed at the end of the listed season — final nowcast rank, win/finalist/ballot probabilities, and the cleanest official Heisman placement on file.

HIGH CONFIDENCE· through week 16
Current nowcast#5300Latest modeled ballot order
Season forecast#5799Where the full season sim points
Win probability0.0%Chance to actually win the trophy
Finalist probability0.0%Chance to make the finalist tier
Ballot probability0.0%Chance to appear anywhere on a ballot
Best official finish--Best completed Heisman placement on file

Heisman Futures

Not yet listed on major futures markets.

No achievements unlocked yet this season.

Selector Grid · 2025

AP
FWAA
AFCA
WCFF
SN
SI

Selector recognition fills in once the major honors lists (AP, FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp, Sporting News, SI) are scraped and ingested.

NIL · Recruiting · NFL Draft

Market value, pedigree & pro outcome

Recruit stars

★★★☆☆

to San Diego State

Composite

0.8511

#1364 national

Today’s Hot-Take

The Hot-Take engine fires when this player’s percentile profile crosses a defensible threshold (top 10% in a cohort, 100+ snap sample). When it’s quiet, the model is honoring its “must be defensible” rule.

Anti-Take

PENDING

The contrarian read fires when the rules-engine detects a stat that complicates the Hot-Take. Quiet here means the model hasn’t found a defensible counter yet — not that one doesn’t exist.

The Room on Baylin Brooks

Fan sentiment ·

Belief Meter

Awaiting per-cohort signal

Sample 0 mentions
Confidence BELOW-FLOOR

Top Take

Trajectory

Cohort divergence mapbearishbullishheatedcalmNational: 2 mentions · belief +0 · "The cumulative link to the preseason rankings can be found [here]( https://www.r"National
  • National · n=2

Rival Radar

How rival fanbases talk about Baylin Brooks

No rival-bucket mentions in the current season.

2025 Signature · 2025 season

Yards per reception

13.8

yds

All FBS WRs, min 20 receptions

National rank #173 of 531
Percentile vs All FBS WRs, min 20 receptions 68th

Why it matters

#173 of 531 All FBS WRs at 13.8 yards per reception (27 catches).

Vs cohort

This player 13.8 (68th)

MODERATE · n=27 cohort 531

  • Also strong
  • Receiving yards (total)#332 / 531
  • Receiving TDs#476 / 531

Signature Moment

Week 1 at Michigan State — 85 ypr

Result L 6-23

The week the volume broke through — put up 85 yds at Michigan State.

A 3-act season arc returns once this player has six or more games on the ledger.

Season Pace · Projection

Where the receiving totals stand

final
Through 13g
372Rec yards
27Receptions
0Rec TDs
Per game
28.6Rec yards
2Receptions
0Rec TDs
Final
372Rec yards
27Receptions
0Rec TDs

What made this player interesting

The fast read on the thing that makes this player more than a generic stat line.

Baylin Brooks's story is about how role and output meet each other. For Western Michigan, the card already shows enough current-season production to explain why he is on the serious-player board, and the next layer is determining whether the profile is just very good or actually distinctive.

Current place #5300 0.0% win | 0.0% finalist
Role load 4.2% Overall usage share
Profile quirk Transfer path 1 portal move

2025 Season · Final

Traditional stats first. Advanced context underneath.

Last season

WR season snapshot

2025 season snapshot | final

2025 season snapshot | finalData: CFBD player stats + local Heisman modelPeer context: same position + same level
Receptions 27 0 rec TD | #320/1110 (71st pct)
Receiving yards 372 13.8 per catch | #308/1107 (72nd pct)
Scrimmage yards 372 Total offensive yardage | #308/1107 (72nd pct)
Player identity What kind of player is this?

30-second read

What kind of player is this?

Receiving weapon against FBS receiving peers.

Balanced profile

2025 Season · Final

2025 season snapshot | final

Receiving

REC
27 71st
YDS
372 72nd
YPR
13.8 66th
TD
0 45th

Game Log · Week-by-week

2025 season · 13 games

Box score · CFBD
WkOppRECYDSAVGTDLONGNote
Wk 1L 6-23@ Michigan State38528.3042Season-high 85 yds
Wk 2L 30-33vs North Texas155.005
Wk 3L 0-38@ Illinois3248.0015
Wk 4W 14-13vs Toledo155.005
Wk 5W 47-14vs Rhode Island23216.0016
Wk 6W 21-3@ Massachusetts33612.0015
Wk 7W 42-0vs Ball State3279.0018
Wk 9L 17-26@ Miami (OH)22010.0012
Wk 10W 24-21vs Central Michigan24221.0030
Wk 12W 17-13vs Ohio22613.0016
Wk 14W 31-21@ Eastern Michigan12222.0022
Wk 15W 23-13vs Miami (OH)23216.0024
BowlW 41-6vs Kennesaw State2168.009
Total2737213.3042
Season-by-season tables Career rows + per-season box score

Traditional history

Traditional Stats

Season rows up top, career context at the bottom.

Season rows Career row

Season context · Team result + system

2023San Diego State4-8HC: Brady Hoke · Run-leaning
2025Western Michigan10-4HC: Lance Taylor · Run-heavy
SeasonTeam
2025Western Michigan2737213.80--
2023San Diego State1526117.41--
Career2 loaded seasons4263315.11--
Advanced layer Usage, value, and context

Advanced metrics second

Advanced Metrics

Usage, value, and opponent-adjusted context.

Usage Value Context
Pass share

The player's share of a team's passing-game involvement. It is the fastest way to see whether the receiver is a true focal point or more of a complementary piece.

Role share

A blended workload view that accounts for catches, designed touches, and any return-game involvement that shapes the overall profile.

Peer percentile

Every percentile is compared against players at the same position and level, so an FBS quarterback is judged against FBS quarterbacks, not the whole sport.

Traditional first

The top tables stick to the stats fans already know from broadcasts and box scores. Advanced context is pushed underneath instead of replacing the basics.

Usage 4.2% 11.9% pass-game share | #383/1137 (66th pct)
Return yards 0 0 return TD
Touchdowns 0 Across offense and returns | #615/1111 (45th pct)
Open full stat explorer
0 metrics visible Showing all metrics
Group Metric Value Rank Pct Why it matters
Receiving Receptions 27 #320/1110 71st pct Volumevs FBS WR
Receiving Receiving yards 372 #308/1107 72nd pct Volumevs FBS WR
Receiving Receiving TD 0 #615/1111 45th pct Scoringvs FBS WR
Receiving Yards / catch 13.8 #375/1106 66th pct Efficiencyvs FBS WR
Usage Pass share 11.9% #383/1137 66th pct Air-game usagevs FBS WR
Receiving Receiving LONG 42 #407/1105 63rd pct Metricvs FBS WR
Usage Passing-down usage 5.2% #692/1137 39th pct Known-passing sharevs FBS WR
Usage 1st-down usage 4.8% #449/1137 61st pct Early-down loadvs FBS WR
Usage 3rd-down usage 4.8% #658/1137 42nd pct Money-down loadvs FBS WR
Usage Role share 4.2% #582/1137 49th pct Share of team offensevs FBS WR
Usage Standard-down usage 3.7% #569/1137 50th pct Base-situation sharevs FBS WR
Usage 2nd-down usage 3.0% #805/1137 29th pct Middle-down loadvs FBS WR
Usage Rush share 0.0% #391/1137 66th pct Ground-game usagevs FBS WR

Player Standing

Universal 17-step ladder. Tier pills below; accolade streams nested.

AWAITING CLASSIFICATION

On-team2-deepStartingRecognizedEliteApex

AWAITING CLASSIFICATION · Rung None of 16

Why he’s here

Standing classification populates when honors, Heisman, and roster signals all align.

What moves him up

What moves him down

Accolade streams

StatusAwaiting tracker

Heisman model tracks the top FBS contenders weekly; this player hasn't entered the watch list yet.

Splits · Per-game

2025 season · 13 games

Home/Road · Win/Loss · Season halves

Home vs Road

REC/gYDS/gYPRTD/g
Home8g1.923.111.60.0
Road5g2.437.416.10.0

Win vs Loss

REC/gYDS/gYPRTD/g
Wins9g2.026.413.60.0
Losses4g2.233.512.80.0

First half vs Second half

REC/gYDS/gYPRTD/g
Weeks 1-78g2.228.811.40.0
Weeks 8+5g1.828.416.40.0

Pocket and defense-quality (clean vs. pressure) splits are coming soon.

Savant · Box-rate percentiles

Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort

37Mid-pack
5 metrics · season cumulative

Concern: rec tds (6th).

Yards / catch#216 / 558 · 60th pct
13.8rece
Rec yards#308 / 558 · 45th pct
372rece
Receptions#320 / 558 · 41st pct
27rece
Long catch#350 / 558 · 36th pct
42rece
Rec TDs#482 / 558 · 7th pct
0rece

Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.

Advanced Savant · WR · 2024

Percentile Card

Advanced opponent-adjusted percentile bars are coming soon for this player.

P4G5All FBS
EPA / dropback
awaiting
CPOE
awaiting
Success rate
awaiting
Explosive rate (20+)
awaiting
aDOT
awaiting
Deep-ball accuracy
awaiting
Pressure-to-sack
awaiting
3rd-down EPA
awaiting
Red-zone TD rate
awaiting
Play-action EPA
awaiting
Scramble EPA
awaiting
Turnover-worthy play rate
awaiting

Advanced Savant

Opponent-adjusted advanced metrics with a cohort filter.

Advanced opponent-adjusted metrics are coming soon for this player. Selected cohort: P4.

Peer Comparator · Fingerprint match

Three closest profiles by box-rate percentile

3 peers · 5 metrics
Baylin BrooksWestern MichiganJacquon GibsonMassachusetts· 66% simKevin Coleman Jr.Missouri· 65% simMichael Jackson IIIPurdue· 64% sim
Yards / catch
60
Brooks
15
Gibson
28
Jr.
9
III
Rec yards
45
Brooks
74
Gibson
84
Jr.
70
III
Receptions
41
Brooks
92
Gibson
94
Jr.
92
III
Long catch
36
Brooks
56
Gibson
56
Jr.
16
III
Rec TDs
7
Brooks
7
Gibson
24
Jr.
24
III

Closest peers by overall box-score percentile profile at the same position.

Player DNA

The Possession Receiver

Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Wyatt Wieland’s 2022 season.

Wyatt Wieland

77%match

Wyoming · 2022

#2

Brian Cobbs

Maryland · 2021

76%
#3

Dean Patterson

Florida International · 2023

All-Conference USA
74%
#4

Taj Davis

Washington · 2021

74%
#5

Mark Walker

Navy · 2020

68%

Matches Wyatt on

Total EPA (college ability)
Weight
Yards / reception

Differs from Wyatt on

Class year (lower)
TD rate (lower)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Jalen Coker’s path through Holy Cross.

Jalen Coker

99%match

Holy Cross · 2023

#2

Hudson Clement

Illinois · 2025

98%
#3

Tre Nixon

UCF · 2020

NFL Rd 7
94%
#4

Cameron Dorner

North Texas · 2025

93%
#5

Beau Kelly

Portland State · 2022

93%

Matches Jalen on

Yards per reception

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Trey Cleveland's junior season at Texas Tech (2022).

Trey Cleveland

80%match

Texas Tech · 2022

#2

Jordan Napier

San Diego State · 2025

All-Mountain West
72%
#3

Rodney Harris II

Ohio · 2025

72%
#4

Daejon Reynolds

Pittsburgh · 2023

71%
#5

Zion Steptoe

Tulsa · 2025

68%

Matches Trey on

Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Reception volume

Differs from Trey on

Class year (lower)

Supporting Cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2025 season

Head Coach

Lance Taylor

Pass share

33.3%

304 pass / 609 run

Plays / game

65.2

14 games

OL sack rate (allowed)

9.3%

248 dropbacks · PBP

Scheme: Run-heavy.

Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025

1 coach
2023
Lance Taylor
Western Michigan
2025
Lance Taylor
Western Michigan

Played his entire career under Lance Taylor.

Bio · Recruiting · Transfer · Roster

Off-field context — switch tabs to drill into recruit profile, transfer arc, or roster timeline.

HometownPasadena, CA
Height6'1"
Weight207 lb
Class2
PositionWR
Jersey82

Trophy Case · Detail

Every honor on the ledger, broken out by stream and selector.

Honors

No formal honors on the ledger yet

All-America, all-conference, player-of-the-week, watch-list, and postseason awards land here when they're earned. The absence is the signal: most players never collect formal honors, and that's its own kind of context.

Honors Timeline

Season-end distinction and week-by-week recognition on one timeline.

Season Honor Scope Team / Selector Context
No formal honors on the ledger yet. All-America, all-conference, weekly awards, watch lists, and postseason trophies land here when they’re earned.

Heisman By Year

Modeled rank and official finish by season.

Season Team Role Latest Model Forecast Win Finalist Official Finish Points Context
2024 San Diego State WR2 #5300 #5799 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W16 snapshot | Mountain West
2023 San Diego State WR2 #2625 #3265 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W19 snapshot | Mountain West

Roster Timeline

Team, conference, and class by season.

Season Team Conference Pos Class Bio
2025 Western Michigan Mid-American WR 2 No. 82 | 6-1 | 207 lb | Pasadena, CA
2024 San Diego State Mountain West WR 2 No. 82 | 6-1 | 207 lb | Pasadena, CA
2023 San Diego State Mountain West WR 2 No. 82 | 6-1 | 207 lb | Pasadena, CA