Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 20-30@ Michigan State | 7 | 76 | 10.9 | 1 | 71 | Season-high 76 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 63-10vs Central Connecticut | 6 | 34 | 5.7 | 1 | 23 | |
| Total | 13 | 110 | 8.3 | 2 | 71 |
#8
Connor Walendzak
Senior running back for Toledo. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 208 lb · Perrysburg, OH · Perrysburg
CFB Index 28 · #304 of 310 RBsHigh confidenceReturning to Toledo 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
110
rushing yards · 2026
2 TD · 8.5 per carry · 4 catches
2 games into 2026 so far
Swing playSwung Toledo from 26% to 55% to win.Toledo at Michigan State · 30-20
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 running back for Toledo. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Toledo in 2023.
- 99 rushing yards in 2025. Then 110 in 2026.
Connor Walendzak
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. Connor Walendzak has played for three head coaches in four seasons at Toledo. One game to point at: 76 rush yds, 18 rec yds against Michigan State — Week 1, 2026.
110 RUSH YDS · 2 RUSH TD · 13 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20238 games
- Signed with Toledo3-star out of Perrysburg
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Toledo
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Jason Candle, Robert Weiner, and Mike Jacobs. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Toledo11-3HC: Jason Candle · Run-leaning
2024Toledo8-5HC: Jason Candle · Balanced
2025Toledo8-5HC: Robert Weiner · Run-leaning
2026Toledo1-1HC: Mike Jacobs · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / carry (93rd percentile). Strength: long run (87th percentile). 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 2 games: 55.0 YDS/g, 8.3 YPC, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Jacobs
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 2 · 2026
W 63–10
34 rush yds (6 car) · 1 TD
Dominant 53-point win at home against Central Connecticut.
With J. Alan Richter — 252 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · QBR 59.1 · 1 rush yds (1 car) · R. Bond — 4 rec · 135 yds · 1 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Michigan State · 2&10 · Q4 · EPA +6.61Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush middle for 71 yards gain to the MSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 13:47, 1ST DOWN #6 J.Richter pass attempt failed
- Week 2 · Central Connecticut · 2&4 · Q1 · EPA +2.33(10:56) No Huddle #6 J.Richter pass complete short right to #8 C.Walendzak caught at CCSU02, for 4 yards to the CCSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:57 #93 R.Griffith kick attempt good (H: #39 A.Ruggles, LS: #59 M.Allen)
- Week 2 · Central Connecticut · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +1.49(06:10) No Huddle-Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush left for 23 yards gain to the CCSU02 (#18 M.Davis; #26 A.Proctor), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Michigan State · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -1.15Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush right for 5 yards loss to the MSU31 (#52 M.Beeler; #5 J.Hall)
- Week 2 · Central Connecticut · 1&1 · Q3 · EPA +0.94Connor Walendzak 1 Yd Run (Reice Griffith Kick)
- Week 1 · Michigan State · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -0.83Shotgun #6 J.Richter pass complete short right to #8 C.Walendzak caught at TOL29, for 0 yards to the TOL29 (#44 C.Wheatland)
- Week 1 · Michigan State · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA +0.77Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush middle for 8 yards gain to the MSU39 (#22 T.Chappell; #45 B.Pretzlaff)
- Week 2 · Central Connecticut · 1&4 · Q1 · EPA -0.65(11:32) No Huddle-Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush middle for 0 yards to the CCSU04 (#47 M.Mapp; #5 L.Toombs)
- Week 2 · Central Connecticut · 2&9 · Q1 · EPA -0.60(13:56) No Huddle #8 C.Walendzak rush middle for 1 yard gain to the TOLEDO38 (#0 D.Omoregie; #13 B.Thomas)
- Week 1 · Michigan State · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -0.54Shotgun #8 C.Walendzak rush middle for 1 yard gain to the TOL24 (#55 B.Roberts)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Toledo
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Toledo
Returning around him
- 66% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 2 Toledo players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (33 in / 38 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Toledo · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #116 · 2026 recruiting class #121
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
RB
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Shadrick Byrd’s 2023 season.
Matches Shadrick on
Yards / carry
Yards / reception
Height
Differs from Shadrick on
Class year (higher)
Total rush EPA (college ability) (lower)
Through 4 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Damonta Witherspoon’s path through Samford.
Matches Damonta on
Yards per carry
Recruiting rating
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jordan Simmons's sophomore season at Michigan State (2021).
Matches Jordan on
Receiving share
Rush TD rate
Yards / reception
Differs from Jordan on
Class year (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Connor Walendzak
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #211
Peaked at #211 this season.
Background
2025 Played in all 13 games...99 yards rushing on 32 attempts...Four receptions for 21 yards...Earned CSC Academic All-District honors and Academic All-MAC honors. 2024 Led team with 458 yards rushing...Got the starting nod vs. Buffalo and NIU...Set career high with 87 yards vs. Akron...79 yards...
The backfield · Toledo
- #8Connor Walendzak99 rushing yards · 2025
- #32Willie Shaw III85 rushing yards · 2025
- #25Mike Drennen II60 rushing yards · 2025
- #27Dane Nauman40 rushing yards · 2025
- #20Corey Smith30 rushing yards · 2025
6 more on the roster · Toledo team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology