Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 3 | 89 | 29.7 | 1 | 73 | Season-high 89 yds |
| Total | 3 | 89 | 29.7 | 1 | 73 |
#2
Justin Baker
Sophomore running back for Tennessee. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 210 lb · Stone Mountain, GA · Buford
Returning to Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
89
rushing yards · 2026
1 TD · 29.7 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 89 rush yds, 1 TD, vs Furman
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Tennessee. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Tennessee in 2025.
Buzz vs Tape
Country hotter than the fans
The wider college football conversation reads him warmer than his own fans do — a gap of 29.7 points in belief.
23.6own fans
53.3national conversation
Also worth knowing:
Justin Baker
Second year in the Tennessee backfield, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 89 rush yds, 1 rush TD against Furman, Week 1, 2026.
89 RUSH YDS · 1 RUSH TD · 3 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20254 games
- Signed with Tennessee3-star out of Buford
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Josh Heupel — 10-5 over that span.
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee2-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / carry (100th percentile). Strength: long run (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 1 game: 89.0 YDS/g, 29.7 YPC, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
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 56–9
vs Furman
89 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · M. Matthews — 4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Tennessee
Returning around him
- 35% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 5 Tennessee players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (21 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tennessee · Last season: 8-5 (AP #18) · Talent rank #13 · 2026 recruiting class #8
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #178
Peaked at #178 this season.
Background
CAREER HONORS 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER Versatile running back who enters his second season with the program in 2026 … Made his mark on special teams as a true freshman and owns two career tackles … Totaled 14 carries for 43 yards in his career … Played in 13 career games. 2025 – F...
The backfield · Tennessee
- #18DeSean Bishop1,076 rushing yards · 2025
- #6Javin Gordon516 rushing yards · 2025
- #17Daune Morris133 rushing yards · 2025
- #2Justin Baker43 rushing yards · 2025
- #24Hunter Barnes2 rushing yards · 2025
1 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology