Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 21-17vs UAlbany | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 0 | 17 | Season-high 17 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 20-33@ Florida International | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Total | 3 | 25 | 10.5 | 0 | 17 |
#24
James McNeil Jr.
Junior running back for Buffalo. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 217 lb · Buffalo, NY
Returning to Buffalo for 2026
The numbers
25
rushing yards · 2026
8.3 per carry
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 17 rush yds, vs UAlbany
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 running back for Buffalo. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Buffalo in 2024.
James McNeil Jr.
James McNeil Jr. has played for two head coaches in three seasons at Buffalo. The receipt on tape: 17 rush yds against UAlbany, Week 1, 2026.
25 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 3 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Buffaloout of Bishop Timon-St. Jude
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Buffalo
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024
Buffalo
Coaching transition mid-career: Maurice Linguist → Pete Lembo. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Buffalo9-4HC: Maurice Linguist · Run-heavy
2025Buffalo5-7HC: Pete Lembo · Balanced
2026Buffalo1-1HC: Pete Lembo · Pass-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / carry (93rd percentile). 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: 12.5 YDS/g, 10.5 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pete Lembo
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 1 · 2026
W 21–17
vs UAlbany
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Buffalo
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Buffalo
Returning around him
- -1% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 1 Buffalo player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (16 in / 16 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Buffalo · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #120 · 2026 recruiting class #101
The backfield · Buffalo
- #25Terrance Shelton Jr.244 rushing yards · 2025
- #24James McNeil Jr.67 rushing yards · 2025
- #4Messiah Burch41 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Devare Mathis1 game · 2025
- Nino Hill1 game · 2026
1 more on the roster · Buffalo team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology