Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 62-0vs Hampton | 4/5 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 12.0 | — | Season-high 60 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 38-14@ UConn | 1/1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | -- | |
| Total | 5/6 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 7.5 | — |
#6
Cardell Williams
Senior quarterback for Maryland. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 181 lb · Houston, TX · Westfield
CFB Index 40 · #88 of 140 QBsHigh confidenceReturning to Maryland 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
63
passing yards · 2026
1 TD · 0 INT · 10.5 per attempt
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 60 pass yds, 1 TD, 49 rush yds, vs Hampton
The play that turned itSwung Nevada from 21% to 82% to win.Sacramento State at Nevada · 20-17
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 quarterback for Maryland. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Tulsa in 2022.
- Transferred from Tulsa to Sacramento State in 2025.
Cardell Williams
Beats you with his legs when the pocket breaks down. Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. His first career honor landed in 2023: AAC Offensive Player of the Week. The receipt: 60 pass yds, 49 rush yds against Hampton — Week 1, 2026.
63 PASS YDS · 1 PASS TD · 68 RUSH YDS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
His career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
2022
- Signed with Tulsa3-star out of Spring Westfield
2025
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2024
Maryland
2026
Maryland
Played his entire career under Mike Locksley.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Tulsa4-8HC: Kevin Wilson · Run-heavy
2024Tulsa3-9HC: Kevin Wilson · Balanced
2026Maryland2-0HC: Mike Locksley · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: completion % (100th percentile). Strength: yards / att (92nd percentile). Concern: pass 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 2 games: 31.5 YDS/g, 0.5 TD/g, 7.5 YPA, 0.0 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Locksley
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 62–0
vs Hampton
60 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 49 rush yds (5 car)
Dominant 62-point win at home against Hampton.
With D. Williams — 116 rush yds (3 car) · 2 TD · M. Washington — 186 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 4 rush yds (3 car)
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +2.57Jordan Scott 16 Yd pass from Cardell Williams (Sean O'Haire Kick)
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&20 · Q3 · EPA +1.74No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams pass complete short right to #17 J.Kitchens caught at Terps35, for 16 yards to the Terps36 (#24 M.Willis), out of bounds
- Week 1 · Hampton · 2&4 · Q3 · EPA +1.63No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush right for 16 yards gain to the HU48 (#28 K.Molett), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +1.28No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams pass complete short right to #17 J.Kitchens caught at HU40, for 18 yards to the HU38 (#24 M.Willis), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Hampton · 3&5 · Q3 · EPA +1.05No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush middle for 5 yards gain to the HU28 (#31 M.Calhoun), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +0.82No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush right for 9 yards gain to the HU30 (#16 J.Watkins)
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +0.59No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams pass complete short left to #11 R.Manning caught at HU43, for 10 yards to the HU38 (#24 M.Willis), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +0.50No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush middle for 20 yards gain to the HU18, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · UConn · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA +0.48(01:59) Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush left for 13 yards gain to the UC28 (#22 J.Martin), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Hampton · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -0.40No Huddle-Shotgun #6 C.Williams rush left for 1 yard loss to the HU17 (#28 K.Molett)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Dangerous with both arm and legs — defenses can't just pin the ears back.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Maryland
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Quarterback · Maryland
Returning around him
- 54% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 1 Maryland player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (14 in / 16 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Maryland · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #46 · 2026 recruiting class #43
DNA match
Player DNA
Dual Threat
Dangerous with both arm and legs — defenses can't just pin the ears back.
QB
His 2023 production profile sits closest to Chance Nolan’s 2022 season.
Matches Chance on
Height
Differs from Chance on
Weight (lower)
Class year (lower)
Rush usage (higher)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Tyler Johnston III’s path through UAB.
94%match
Matches Tyler on
Height
Yards per attempt
Completion %
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Tyler Vitt's freshman season at Texas State (2020).
58%match
Matches Tyler on
INT rate
Completion %
Differs from Tyler on
Weight (lower)
Rush usage (higher)
Yards / attempt (higher)
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #82
Peaked at #82 this season.
Background
Before Maryland: Spent 2025 at Sacramento State where he played in 12 games and started the final 10 at quarterback Completed 111-of-176 passes for 1,651 yards and 10 touchdowns Completed 63.1% of his passes, ranking as the sixth best single-season mark in school history Prior to Sacramento State...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology