Jalen Brown is New Mexico State's standing debate — same snaps, two verdicts, every single week.
6′2″ · 225 lb · Chicago, IL
The numbers
rushing yards · 2026
8.8 per carry
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 24 rush yds, vs Mercyhurst
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 running back for New Mexico State. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Jalen Brown
Jalen Brown is on trial in New Mexico State's fan jury — the eye test against the résumé.
New Mexico State fans are litigating his worthiness — the eye test against the résumé.
Minority viewA vocal minority sees it the other way.
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
His career
Career arc
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Tony Sanchez — 5-10 over that span.
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / carry (100th percentile). Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 24.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 5.5 | 5.5 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 11.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tony Sanchez
Pass share
52.3%
101 pass / 92 run
Plays / game
64.3
3 games
Team sack rate
3.7%
107 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New Mexico State | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | New Mexico State | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | -- |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–14
vs Mercyhurst
24 rush yds (2 car)
Dominant 37-point win at home against Mercyhurst.
With T. Washington Jr. — 43 rush yds (7 car) · 2 TD · T. Hedden — 253 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 36.8 · -7 rush yds (3 car)
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 17-34@ Florida State | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 12 | Season-high 24 yds |
| Wk 1 | W 51-14vs Mercyhurst | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 0 | 20 | Season-high 24 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 19-29@ Hawai'i | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 35 | 7.7 | 0 | 20 |
2026 Outlook
New Mexico State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · New Mexico State
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
New Mexico State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #135 · 2026 recruiting class #134
3 more on the roster · New Mexico State team page