Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 0-40@ Iowa | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 6 | Season-high 9 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 24-28vs Illinois State | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Total | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 6 |
#20
Jaidaun Cranford
Freshman running back for Northern Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′9″ · 190 lb · Metamora, IL
Returning to Northern Illinois for 2026
The numbers
16
rushing yards · 2026
4 per carry
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 rush yds, at Iowa
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 running back for Northern Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Northern Illinois in 2026.
Jaidaun Cranford
One game to point at: 9 rush yds against Iowa — Week 1, 2026.
16 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 4 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with Northern Illinois3-star out of Metamora
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Northern Illinois
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Northern Illinois0-2HC: Rob Harley · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 8.0 YDS/g, 4.0 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Rob Harley
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
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northern Illinois | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Northern Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Northern Illinois
Returning around him
- 44% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- Transfer portal: -15 net (7 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Northern Illinois · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #126 · 2026 recruiting class #82
The backfield · Northern Illinois
- #45Telly Johnson Jr.690 rushing yards · 2025
- #24Elijah Porter80 rushing yards · 2025
- #11Romelo Ware1 rushing yard · 2025
- #8Triston White1 game · 2026
- #20Jaidaun Cranford2 games · 2026
2 more on the roster · Northern Illinois team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology