CFB Zeitgeist Score
22
Below cohort in the position cohort. Carried by yards / carry at the 29th percentile.
DJ Butler
Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.
301 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 68 CARRIES
2026 Outlook
Returning to Houston for 2026
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Houston
Returning around him
- 105% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- 1 Houston player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +2 net (18 in / 16 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Houston · Last season: 10-3 (AP #25) · Talent rank #66 · 2026 recruiting class #52
RB · HOUSTON · BIG 12
DJ Butler
- 2
- #25
- 6-0 | 190 lb
- Mobile, AL
Heisman Heat
#1267
<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 RB AWARD
Doak Walker
—
CONSENSUS
All-American
—
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR06 · Starter
Starter. A locked-in starting role.
Not on team2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2024–2025+195%
Up 195% from first season to most-recent.
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Houston
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Identity & Role
The durable bio layer: position, size, hometown, and roster role.
Recruiting Pedigree
How big the prospect was before college, and whether the later career arc beat that expectation.
| Class | Profile | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3-star | 0.8600 | No. 1212 recruit | HighSchool |
Transfer Arc
Portal movement changes role, context, and perception. This keeps that path in one place.
| Season | Move | Context |
|---|---|---|
| No transfer portal moves on file for this player. | ||
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 16Heisman 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 —
Composite
0.8600
#1212 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
PENDINGThe 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 DJ Butler
Fan sentiment · Awaiting signal
The Room reads fan conversation around a player — who’s talking, what they believe, and how that shifts. It publishes once weekly volume rebuilds; for most players that’s in-season, when game-week chatter spikes.
Cohort divergence map
Cohort divergence reads how different fanbases talk about this player. Returns once weekly mentions clear the publish floor.
Rival Radar
How rival fanbases talk about DJ Butler
No rival-bucket mentions in the current season.
Signature Story
Awaiting candidate metric
He hasn't written his page yet — we'll start filling it in when there are enough snaps to rank against his peers.
Signature Moment
No signature moment on the ledger yet.
Returns once this player puts together a multi-game body of work — single-game flashes alone don't clear the bar.
Season Pace · Projection
Where the rushing totals stand
Through 11g
301Rush yards
68Carries
0Rush TDs
Per game
27.4Rush yards
6Carries
0Rush TDs
Projected (13g)
355.7Rush yards
80Carries
0Rush TDs
To hit 750-yard season (currently 301): needs 224.5/game over remaining 2.
To hit 1,000-yard season (currently 301): needs 349.5/game over remaining 2.
To hit 1,500-yard season (currently 301): needs 599.5/game over remaining 2.
To hit 10 rushing TDs (currently 0): needs 5/game over remaining 2.
To hit 15 rushing TDs (currently 0): needs 7.5/game over remaining 2.
To hit 20 rushing TDs (currently 0): needs 10/game over remaining 2.
What made this player interesting
The fast read on the thing that makes this player more than a generic stat line.
DJ Butler's story is about how role and output meet each other. For Houston, 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.
2025 Season · Final
Traditional stats first. Advanced context underneath.
Last season
RB season snapshot
2025 season snapshot | final
2025 season snapshot | finalData: CFBD player stats + local Heisman modelPeer context: same position + same level
Player identity What kind of player is this?
30-second read
What kind of player is this?
Backfield contributor against FBS RB peers.
2025 Season · Final
2025 season snapshot | final
Rushing
CAR
68 66th
YDS
301 65th
YPC
4.4 44th
TD
0 40th
Receiving
REC
8 55th
YDS
58 54th
YPR
7.3 56th
TD
0 70th
Game Log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 11 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 27-0vs Stephen F. Austin | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 | 15 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-9@ Rice | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 0 | 8 | |
| Wk 5 | W 27-24@ Oregon State | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 | 11 | |
| Wk 7 | W 39-17@ Oklahoma State | 5 | 17 | 3.4 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 8 | W 31-28vs Arizona | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 6 | |
| Wk 9 | W 24-16@ Arizona State | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 0 | 6 | |
| Wk 10 | L 35-45vs West Virginia | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 0 | 15 | |
| Wk 11 | W 30-27@ UCF | 14 | 69 | 4.9 | 0 | 11 | Season-high 69 yds |
| Wk 13 | L 14-17vs TCU | 8 | 33 | 4.1 | 0 | 13 | |
| Wk 14 | W 31-24@ Baylor | 10 | 53 | 5.3 | 0 | 13 | |
| Bowl | W 38-35vs LSU | 8 | 21 | 2.6 | 0 | 9 | |
| Total | 68 | 301 | 4.4 | 0 | 15 |
Season-by-season tables Career rows + per-season box score
Traditional history
Traditional Stats
Season rows up top, career context at the bottom.
Season context · Team result + system
2024Houston4-8HC: Dana Holgorsen · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2025Houston10-3HC: Willie Fritz · Run-leaning
Advanced layer Usage, value, and context
Advanced metrics second
Advanced Metrics
Usage, value, and opponent-adjusted context.
Opponent-adjusted rushing value. It helps separate empty volume from carries that actually move the scoreboard.
How much of the team's offense flows through this back once rushing work and receiving work are combined.
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.
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.
Open full stat explorer
| Group | Metric | Value | Rank | Pct | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing | Rushing yards | 301 | #259/735 | 65th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Rush TD | 0 | #447/739 | 40th pct | Scoringvs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Yards / carry | 4.4 | #409/735 | 44th pct | Efficiencyvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receptions | 8 | #248/552 | 55th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving yards | 58 | #254/548 | 54th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Value | Rushing WEPA | +0.09 | #226/362 | 38th pct | Opponent-adjusted rushing value | 60 weighted playsvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Role share | 9.5% | #332/738 | 55th pct | Share of team offensevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Carries | 68 | #249/739 | 66th pct | Volumevs FBS RB |
| Rushing | Rushing LONG | 15 | #465/733 | 37th pct | Metricvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving LONG | 12 | #365/540 | 33rd pct | Metricvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Yards / catch | 7.3 | #241/548 | 56th pct | Efficiencyvs FBS RB |
| Receiving | Receiving TD | 0 | #169/552 | 70th pct | Scoringvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Rush share | 15.0% | #349/738 | 53rd pct | Ground-game usagevs FBS RB |
| Usage | 1st-down usage | 12.1% | #296/738 | 60th pct | Early-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Standard-down usage | 10.8% | #327/738 | 56th pct | Base-situation sharevs FBS RB |
| Usage | 2nd-down usage | 9.9% | #346/738 | 53rd pct | Middle-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Passing-down usage | 6.3% | #385/738 | 48th pct | Known-passing sharevs FBS RB |
| Usage | 3rd-down usage | 5.0% | #439/738 | 41st pct | Money-down loadvs FBS RB |
| Usage | Pass share | 2.8% | #333/738 | 55th pct | Air-game usagevs FBS RB |
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
Status—Awaiting tracker
Heisman model tracks the top FBS contenders weekly; this player hasn't entered the watch list yet.
Splits · Per-game
2025 season · 11 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 23.0 | 4.2 | 0.0 |
| Road6g | 31.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
Win vs Loss
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins9g | 27.0 | 4.3 | 0.0 |
| Losses2g | 29.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 19.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+6g | 34.3 | 4.6 | 0.0 |
Pocket and defense-quality (clean vs. pressure) splits are coming soon.
Savant · Box-rate percentiles
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
22Below cohort
Concern: rush tds (3rd).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Advanced Savant · RB · 2024
Percentile Card
Advanced opponent-adjusted percentile bars are coming soon for this player.
P4G5All FBS
Advanced Savant
Opponent-adjusted advanced metrics with a cohort filter.
wepa_rushing0.09Low (p25–p50) (n=178)
Peer Comparator · Fingerprint match
Three closest profiles by box-rate percentile
DJ ButlerHoustonTae MeadowsTroy· 58% simKamari MoultonIowa· 56% simChavon WrightNorthern Illinois· 56% sim
Rec yards
Receptions
Yards / carry
Carries
Rush yards
Long run
Rush TDs
Closest peers by overall box-score percentile profile at the same position.
Player DNA
The Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jaiden Credle’s 2022 season.
Jaiden Credle
78%match
#2
Jaivian Thomas
79%
#3
TJ McDaniel
68%
#4
A'Jon Vivens
72%
#5
Jordan Simmons
66%
Matches Jaiden on
Yards / carry
Weight
Rush TD rate
Differs from Jaiden on
Class year (higher)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Andrew Body’s path through Alabama State.
Andrew Body
92%match
#2
Gerrid Doaks
All-AACNFL Rd 7
90%
#3
Larry Rountree III
All-SECNFL Rd 6
89%
#4
Narii Gaither
86%
#5
TJ McDaniel
86%
Matches Andrew on
Yards per carry
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Anthony Williams Jr.'s sophomore season at Akron (2021).
Anthony Williams Jr.
74%match
#2
Ca'Lil Valentine
72%
#3
Chavon Mceachern
66%
#4
Duke Watson
70%
#5
A'Jon Vivens
69%
Matches Anthony on
Weight
Yards / carry
Height
Differs from Anthony on
Yards / reception (lower)
Rush TD rate (lower)
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Willie Fritz
Pass share
41.4%
377 pass / 534 run
Plays / game
70.1
13 games
OL sack rate (allowed)
6.5%
262 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025
2 coaches2024
Dana Holgorsen
Houston
2025era →
Willie Fritz
Houston
Coaching transition mid-career: Dana Holgorsen → Willie Fritz. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Bio · Recruiting · Transfer · Roster
Off-field context — switch tabs to drill into recruit profile, transfer arc, or roster timeline.
HometownMobile, AL
Height6'0"
Weight190 lb
Class2
PositionRB
Jersey25
No fields populated yet.
No fields populated yet.
Current teamHouston
ConferenceBig 12
Joined2025
Career arc2 season(s)
Trophy Case · Detail
Every honor on the ledger, broken out by stream and selector.
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 | Houston | RB2 | #1267 | #1792 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -- | -- | W16 snapshot | Big 12 |
Roster Timeline
Team, conference, and class by season.