Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 80-6vs Northwestern State | 3 | 133 | 44.3 | 1 | 75 | Season-high 133 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 14-45@ LSU | 6 | 101 | 16.8 | 1 | 67 | |
| Total | 9 | 234 | 30.5 | 2 | 75 |
#11
Jalen Mickens
Sophomore wide receiver for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′9″ · 187 lb · Willis, TX · Willis HS
CFB Index 27 · #452 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Louisiana Tech 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
234
receiving yards · 2026
9 catches · 2 TD · 26 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far
Swing playSwung Louisiana Tech from 43% to 68% to win.Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech · 80-6
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 wide receiver for Louisiana Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Louisiana Tech in 2025.
Jalen Mickens
Moves the chains on third down. He has spent two seasons in the Louisiana Tech receiving corps. One game to point at: 133 rec yds, 31 rush yds against Northwestern State — Week 1, 2026.
234 REC YDS · 9 REC · 2 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
The week the volume broke through — stacked 1 td vs New Mexico State.New Mexico State · W 49-142025
202510 games
- Signed with Louisiana Tech3-star out of Willis
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Louisiana Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Sonny Cumbie — 9-6 over that span.
2025Louisiana Tech8-5HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-heavy
2026Louisiana Tech1-1HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: rush yards (100th percentile). Strength: yards / catch (98th percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (8)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.5 REC/g, 117 YDS/g, 30.5 YPR, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Sonny Cumbie
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.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Sun Belt
Based on 2025: #51 of 52 Conference USA WRs — his program moves to the Sun Belt for 2026
How the All-Sun Belt estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player. The base rate was measured on players who stayed in the same conference; this estimate is not adjusted for the move to the Sun Belt.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Louisiana Tech | 9 | 234 | 26.0 | 2 | -- |
| 2025 | Louisiana Tech | 20 | 177 | 8.8 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 29 | 411 | 14.2 | 3 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Louisiana Tech | 2 | 31 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Louisiana Tech | 1 | 6 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 3 | 37 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 80–6
31 rush yds (2 car)
Dominant 74-point win at home against Northwestern State.
With B. Baker — 232 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 1 rush yds (1 car) · D. Latulas — 2 rec · 10 yds · 1 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · LSU · 3&9 · Q4 · EPA +6.88(08:17) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete deep middle to #11 J.Mickens caught at LSU46, for 67 yards to the LSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:08, 1ST DOWN #38 K.Kent kick attempt good (H: #29 L.Matthews, LS: #41 E.Burch)
- Week 1 · Northwestern State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +6.08Jalen Mickens 75 Yd pass from Blake Baker (Kaegan Kent Kick)
- Week 1 · Northwestern State · 3&5 · Q2 · EPA +1.96Shotgun #11 J.Mickens rush right for 28 yards gain to the NWST13 (#6 J.Cooper), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Northwestern State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.83Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short middle to #11 J.Mickens caught at TECH45, for 21 yards to the NWST44 (#25 K.Anderson-Dale; #2 A.Hall), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · LSU · 3&7 · Q4 · EPA +1.64(06:26) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short right to #11 J.Mickens caught at LAT31, for 15 yards to the LAT32 (#48 K.Cobbins), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Northwestern State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.22(02:00) Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short middle to #11 J.Mickens caught at NWST32, for 37 yards to the NWST07 (#1 C.Williams; #2 A.Hall), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Northwestern State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA -0.25Shotgun #11 J.Mickens rush left for 3 yards gain to the NWST35 (#24 B.Ross; #5 T.Wray Jr.)
- Week 2 · LSU · 3&9 · Q4 · EPA -0.24(11:49) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short middle to #11 J.Mickens caught at LAT36, for 6 yards to the LAT42 fumbled by #11 J.Mickens at LAT41 forced by #99 D.Geralds recovered by LSU #28 J.Thomas at LAT42 #28 J.Thomas return 22 yards to the LAT20 (#72 H.Christman), out of bounds
- Week 2 · LSU · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA -0.11(03:46) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short middle to #11 J.Mickens caught at LAT26, for 4 yards to the LAT29 (#7 W.Weeks)
- Week 2 · LSU · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -0.11(02:11) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 B.Baker pass complete short right to #11 J.Mickens caught at LAT27, for 4 yards to the LAT29 (#0 T.Cooley)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Louisiana Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Louisiana Tech
Returning around him
- 64% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- Transfer portal: -13 net (11 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Louisiana Tech · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #124 · 2026 recruiting class #99
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jacob Jordan’s 2024 season.
Matches Jacob on
Total EPA (college ability)
TD rate
Yards / reception
Differs from Jacob on
EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Dominic Knicely's freshman season at Coastal Carolina (2025).
Matches Dominic on
Weight
EPA / play (adj)
Recruiting rating
Background
CAREER HONORS & AWARDS CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2026) CUSA Academic Medalist (2026) FRESHMAN (2025) Played in all 13 games while making five starts at wide receiver as a true freshman … Finished tied for third on the team in receptions by a receiver with 20 … Tallied 177 yards and one touc...
The receiver room · Louisiana Tech
- #11Jalen Mickens177 receiving yards · 2025
- #8David Pierro89 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Dedrick Latulas55 receiving yards · 2025
- #15Luke Watkins39 receiving yards · 2025
- #17Dane Benedix14 receiving yards · 2025
8 more on the roster · Louisiana Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology