Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-18vs South Dakota State | 10 | 46 | 4.6 | 1 | 11 | Season-high 46 yds |
| Total | 10 | 46 | 4.6 | 1 | 11 |
#5
Caleb Komolafe
Junior running back for Northwestern. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 210 lb · Katy, TX · Tompkins
CFB Index 65 · #52 of 326 RBsHigh confidenceReturning to Northwestern for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
46
rushing yards · 2026
1 TD · 4.6 per carry · 2 catches
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 46 rush yds, 1 TD, 37 rec yds, vs South Dakota State
The play that turned itSwung Northwestern from 13% to 50% to win.Northwestern at Nebraska · 28-21
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 running back for Northwestern. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Northwestern in 2023.
Caleb Komolafe
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. This is his fourth year in the same backfield at Northwestern. The receipt on tape: 46 rush yds, 37 rec yds against South Dakota State, Week 1, 2026.
46 RUSH YDS · 1 RUSH TD · 10 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20234 games
- Signed with Northwestern3-star out of Katy Tompkins
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Northwestern
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Northwestern
Played his entire career under David Braun.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under David Braun — 20-19 over that span.
2023Northwestern8-5HC: David Braun · Run-leaning
2024Northwestern4-8HC: David Braun · Balanced, slow tempo
2025Northwestern7-6HC: David Braun · Run-leaning
2026Northwestern1-0HC: David Braun · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidenceBreakout
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 46.0 YDS/g, 4.6 YPC, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
David Braun
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 1 game in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #12 of 44 Big Ten RBs
How the All-Big Ten estimate is computed
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northwestern | 10 | 46 | 4.6 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Northwestern | 190 | 941 | 5.0 | 11 | -- |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 50 | 139 | 2.8 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | Northwestern | 4 | 9 | 2.2 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 254 | 1,135 | 4.5 | 12 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northwestern | 2 | 37 | 18.5 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Northwestern | 11 | 60 | 5.5 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | Northwestern | 5 | 33 | 6.6 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 20 | 138 | 6.9 | 2 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 34–18
46 rush yds (10 car) · 1 TD
With A. Chiles — 273 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 18 rush yds (8 car) · 1 TD · J. Himon II — 87 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 3&8 · Q2 · EPA +2.91(08:56) Shotgun #0 A.Chiles pass complete short right to #5 C.Komolafe caught at NU49, for 25 yards to the SDSU23 (#21 M.Green), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&7 · Q3 · EPA +2.20(07:17) Shotgun #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 7 yards gain to the SDSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 07:13 #90 J.Kleather kick attempt good (H: #94 H.Helms, LS: #60 E.Boutorwick)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.03(01:14) Shotgun #0 A.Chiles pass complete short right to #5 C.Komolafe caught at NU26, for 12 yards to the NU37 (#7 N.St-Juste; #18 J.Krcil), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +1.00(10:14) #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 8 yards gain to the NU38 (#18 J.Krcil; #1 I.Current)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&20 · Q1 · EPA -0.76(03:49) #5 C.Komolafe rush left for 1 yard gain to the SDSU38 (#28 C.Van Tol)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 2&8 · Q4 · EPA -0.38(07:33) Shotgun #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 2 yards gain to the NU33 (#0 C.Sitzman; #3 D.Johnson)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -0.30(09:54) #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 3 yards gain to the NU28 (#18 J.Krcil; #8 R.Kirschenman)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 2&16 · Q3 · EPA +0.28(14:03) Shotgun #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 11 yards gain to the NU21 (#18 J.Krcil)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 2&7 · Q3 · EPA +0.27(09:33) Shotgun #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 6 yards gain to the NU34 (#18 J.Krcil)
- Week 1 · South Dakota State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.23(08:26) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 C.Komolafe rush middle for 2 yards gain to the SDSU21 (#3 D.Johnson)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Northwestern
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Northwestern
Returning around him
- 88% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- 2 Northwestern players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +9 net (17 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Northwestern · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #60 · 2026 recruiting class #52
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Khalan Laborn’s 2022 season.
84%match
All-Sun Belt
Matches Khalan on
Yards / carry
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Rush TD rate
Differs from Khalan on
EPA / carry (adj) (higher)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Garrett Groshek’s path through Wisconsin.
100%match
#2
Narii Gaither
96%
Matches Garrett on
Yards per carry
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Bryson Washington's junior season at Baylor (2025).
73%match
Matches Bryson on
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Weight
Height
Differs from Bryson on
Rush TD rate (higher)
Receiving share (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Caleb Komolafe
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #120
Peaked at #120 this season.
Background
2025 Redshirt Sophomore: Earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, appearing in 11 games with 10 starts … Took 190 carries for 941 rushing yards (4.95 ypc) and 11 rushing touchdowns … Ranked seventh in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players … Turned 11 receptions into 60...
The backfield · Northwestern
- #5Caleb Komolafe941 rushing yards · 2025
- #27Gavin Sawchuk486 rushing yards · 2025
- #6Joseph Himon II486 rushing yards · 2025
- #4Cam Porter137 rushing yards · 2025
- #7Mar'Kel Porter93 rushing yards · 2025
5 more on the roster · Northwestern team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology