Sun Belt ConferenceShort-yardage / goal-line · enumeration
Who gets the tough yard
4/25Inside-5 share
4 of the team's 25 inside-the-5 carries (16.0%).
Kenyon Clay
Rushing yards221250th of 278 running backsLast gameW 38–32vs Georgia State · Oct 24
Nextvs UL MonroeSat Nov 7 · 3 pm ET
- touchdown
Kennesaw State · W 17-14
No carries.
Louisiana · L 20-23
No carries.
Georgia State · W 38-32
11 carries, 77 yards
The other 5 games average 29 yards. This one was 48 above.
Clay has carries in 6 of Arkansas State’s 8 games: none against Kennesaw State and Louisiana.
Dashed line: 100 yards.
This week
- RecordArkansas State is 4-4.
- Next gamevs UL Monroe · Sat Nov 7
Worth knowing
- Kenyon Clay spent three seasons at Southern Miss before joining Arkansas State.
His most important play this season
20% of the carries, 20% of the yards, 19% of the touchdowns
- Carries20%52 of 258
- Yards20%221 of 1,108
- Touchdowns19%3 of 16
Share of the team's rushing yards, game by game
No bar in a game where the team had under 100 rushing yards: a share of that little says nothing.
Who carried it
- Solomon Baggett306 yards, 68 carries, 2 touchdowns
- Kenyon Clay221 yards, 52 carries, 3 touchdowns
- Trey Owens210 yards, 61 carries, 4 touchdowns
- James Lee141 yards, 21 carries
- Ezell Jolly110 yards, 20 carries, 1 touchdown
- 5 others120 yards
Share of the team's total this season.
Most of his carries go up the middle
102030405075
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each line is one carry: taller means more yards, and a line pointing down lost yards. Black lines are touchdowns. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside each lane the carries are lined up shortest to longest, not placed. Of his carries with a spot in the play text: left 6, middle 28, right 18. His longest went for 24 yards.
Kenyon Clay
Played for three head coaches at two programs in five seasons: Will Hall, Reed Stringer and Butch Jones. A game that shows it: 77 rushing yards and 5 receiving yards against Georgia State — Week 8, 2026.
221 rushing yards · 3 rushing TD · 52 carries
Style of play
Style of play
Play style
Just keeps getting the ball, series after series.
Similar players
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
Fans
No outlet on our list has written about this player by name this season.
Where to follow
Career stats
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Arkansas State | 52 | 221 | 4.2 | 3 | 24 |
| 2025 | Arkansas State | 139 | 523 | 3.8 | 3 | 30 |
| 2024 | Southern Miss | 84 | 387 | 4.6 | 7 | 70 |
| 2023 | Southern Miss | 40 | 179 | 4.5 | 1 | 28 |
| 2022 | Southern Miss | 19 | 45 | 2.4 | 2 | 13 |
| Career | 334 | 1,355 | 4.1 | 16 | 70 |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Arkansas State | 10 | 124 | 12.4 | 1 | 75 |
| 2025 | Arkansas State | 37 | 205 | 5.5 | 3 | 27 |
| 2024 | Southern Miss | 21 | 225 | 10.7 | 1 | 37 |
| 2023 | Southern Miss | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | Southern Miss | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 6 |
| Career | 71 | 568 | 8.0 | 5 | 75 |
Last game (Wk 8): 77 rushing yards, 1 catch.
Game log
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 6 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 24-42@ Memphis | 13 | 50 | 3.8 | 1 | 10 | |
| Wk 2 | W 52-7vs West Georgia | 12 | 49 | 4.1 | 1 | 11 | |
| Wk 3 | L 7-31@ TCU | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 6 | L 49-56vs South Alabama | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 7 | W 23-13@ Southern Miss | 10 | 30 | 3.0 | 1 | 10 | |
| Wk 8 | W 38-32vs Georgia State | 11 | 77 | 7.0 | 0 | 24 | Season-high 77 yds |
| Total | 52 | 221 | 4.2 | 3 | 24 |
The latest game
Oct. 24 · W 38-32 vs Georgia State, play by play
11 carries for 77 yards, his most this season. In the fourth quarter, with Arkansas State ahead by one score, he carried 4 times for 26 yards.
- 4 went 10+ yards
- 2 stopped at or behind the line
- 5 moved the chains
- 1 catch for 5 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 2 for 9
- Third quarterbegan tied 14-14
- 3 for 31, 1 rec1
- Fourth quarterbegan up 28-21
- 6 for 37
- FinalW 38-32
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
24-yard run. Third quarter, tied 14-14.
The season, game by game
W 23-13 at Southern MissOct. 1730 yds10 carries, 1 TD
10 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 3 passes for 11 yards.
- of the 9 carries drawn:
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 2 stopped at or behind the line
- 1 moved the chains
- 3 catches for 11 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 4 for 51
- Second quarterbegan up 6-0
- 1 for 2, 1 rec, 1 TD2
- Third quarterbegan up 16-7
- 1 for 7, 2 rec3
- Fourth quarterbegan up 16-7
- 3 for 6
- FinalW 23-13
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
The per-play feed is missing a 10-yard run in the third quarter (the play drew a penalty), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 9 carries it has.
- 1
No gain on 3rd and 4. First quarter, up 3-0.
- 2
2-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 2. Second quarter, made it 13-0.
- 3
11-yard catch. Third quarter, up 16-7.
1020304050
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
4 more games, with the play by play
L 49-56 vs South AlabamaOct. 810 yds4 carries
4 carries for 10 yards.
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 1 stopped at or behind the line
- 1 moved the chains
- 2 catches for 19 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 1 for 3, 1 rec
- Second quarterbegan down 14-7
- 1 for 5
- Third quarterbegan down 34-28
- 2 for 2, 1 rec1
- FinalL 49-56
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
12-yard catch. Third quarter, down 49-28.
1020304050
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
L 7-31 at TCUSept. 195 yds2 carries
2 carries for 5 yards.
- 0 went 10+ yards
- 1 stopped at or behind the line
- 0 moved the chains
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 2 for 51
- FinalL 7-31
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
5-yard run. First quarter, down 7-0.
1020304050
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
W 52-7 vs West GeorgiaSept. 1249 yds12 carries, 1 TD
12 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.
- of the 11 carries drawn:
- 1 went 10+ yards
- 1 stopped at or behind the line
- 5 moved the chains
- 2 catches for 4 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 5 for 151
- Second quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 2 for 13, 1 rec2
- Third quarterbegan up 21-7
- 4 for 15, 1 rec, 1 TD3
- FinalW 52-7
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
The per-play feed is missing a 6-yard run in the third quarter (the play drew a penalty), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 11 carries it has.
- 1
2-yard run on 3rd and 1. First quarter, tied 0-0. Converted.
- 2
11-yard run on 3rd and 3. Second quarter, up 7-0. Converted.
- 3
3-yard run on 4th and 1. Third quarter, up 35-7. Converted.
1020304050
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
L 24-42 at MemphisSept. 550 yds13 carries, 1 TD
13 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
- 1 went 10+ yards
- 0 stopped at or behind the line
- 4 moved the chains
- 2 catches for 85 yds
- First quarterbegan tied 0-0
- 6 for 20
- Second quarterbegan up 3-0
- 1 for 1, 1 rec, 2 TD12
- Third quarterbegan down 21-17
- 5 for 27
- Fourth quarterbegan down 35-24
- 1 for 2, 1 rec
- FinalL 24-42
a carry, by its yardsa loss, below the linea catcha touchdown
- 1
1-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 1. Second quarter, made it 10-7.
- 2
75-yard touchdown. Second quarter, made it 17-14.
102030405075
leftmiddleright
a carry, up for a gain and down for a lossa touchdown
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
Signature game
Week 1 · 2026
L 24-42
at Memphis
2 rec · 85 yds · 1 TD · 50 rush yds (13 car) · 1 TD
With T. Owens — 325 yds · 1 TD · 4 INT · 33 rush yds (7 car) · D. Vuckovic — 34 yards per punt · 3 punts · 2 inside the 20
Signature plays
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Memphis · 1st and 10 · Q2 · EPA +6.08Owens to Clay: a 75-yard touchdown pass.
- Week 7 · Southern Miss · 3rd and 2 · Q2 · EPA +2.54K.Clay rush middle for 2 yards gain for a touchdown
- Week 1 · Memphis · 3rd and 1 · Q2 · EPA +2.45K.Clay rush right for 1 yard gain for a touchdown
- Week 2 · West Georgia · 3rd and 3 · Q2 · EPA +1.92K.Clay rush right for 11 yards gain (S.Ferguson)
- Week 2 · West Georgia · 1st and 5 · Q3 · EPA +1.88K.Clay rush right for 5 yards gain for a touchdown
- Week 8 · Georgia State · 2nd and 7 · Q4 · EPA +1.52K.Clay rush middle for 11 yards gain (D.Faria; M.Harrell)
4 more plays
- Week 1 · Memphis · 1st and 10 · Q1 · EPA +1.38K.Clay rush right for 9 yards gain (M.Montgomery)
- Week 8 · Georgia State · 1st and 10 · Q4 · EPA −1.31K.Clay rush right for 1 yard loss (C.Owens; J.Reeder)
- Week 2 · West Georgia · 4th and 1 · Q3 · EPA +1.28K.Clay rush left for 3 yards gain (C.Bekee; L.Naquin)
- Week 8 · Georgia State · 1st and 10 · Q4 · EPA +1.17K.Clay rush middle for 13 yards gain (K.Nelson)
Where he ranks
Rush yards221250thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Yards / carry4.3tied for 209thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Rush TDs3tied for 136thAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Long run24tied for 223rdAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Carries52tied for 223rdAmong 278 backs with 40 or more carries
Rec yards124tied for 37thAmong 273 backs with 40 or more carries
Receptions10tied for 94thAmong 273 backs with 40 or more carries
314th in rushing yards, among all 1,551 FBS players with a rushing row this season, any position
Opponents faced, by strength
Ratings of the games shown run from -16 to +9 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Rushing profile
Rush profile · Shape, efficiency, and ball security
How he gets his yards, and how often it works
50 of 52 carries matched to play-by-play
Success rate
50%50 carriesStuffed
0 or fewer yds14%of carries
7 carries
Grind
1–3 yds42%of carries
21 carries
Chunk
4–9 yds32%of carries
16 carries
Explosive
10+ yds12%of carries
6 carries
5 of 5 (100%) converted on 3rd/4th & short (≤2 to go) · 3 of 4 (75%) scored from inside the 5-yard line
4.3 yds/carry on 52 carries · 12% explosive (10+ yds) · 50% success rate.
Teams and coaches
2022Southern Miss7-6HC: Will Hall · Run-leaning
2023Southern Miss3-9HC: Will Hall · Run-leaning
2024Southern Miss1-11HC: Will Hall and Reed Stringer · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2025Arkansas State7-6HC: Butch Jones · Balanced
2026Arkansas State4-4HC: Butch Jones · Balanced, slow tempo
Our ratings
Splits
Home and road splits, scheme and staff
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 6 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 45.3 | 4.5 | 0.3 |
| Road3g | 28.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 28.8 | 3.2 | 0.6 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 77.0 | 7.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Butch Jones
Pass share
47.5%
233 pass / 258 run
Plays / game
61.4
8 games
Team sack rate
6.2%
258 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
52 carries and 10 catches in 6 games
About as many touches a game as a typical FBS running back who plays every week.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
47 · #159 of 330 RBs · through 6 games
Three-star recruit. Now #159 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Sun Belt
Based on 2025: #33 of 36 Sun Belt RBs
How the All-Sun Belt base rate is computed
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 15% of returning players who ranked #21 or lower at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 13–17%).
Starter
The No. 1,618 recruit in the country is carrying the ball in the Sun Belt.
Five seasons, two schools
2026 is in progress.
- 2026 Arkansas State JonesYear 5 · 6 games
- 2025 Arkansas State JonesYear 4 · 13 games
- Jan 2025 Entered the transfer portalSouthern Miss to Arkansas State
- 2024 Southern Miss HallYear 3 · 12 games
- 2023 Southern Miss HallYear 2 · 8 games
- 2022 Southern Miss HallYear 1 · 5 games
- High school UnionUnion, MS · Class of 2022Three-star, No. 1,618 in the 2022 class. Signed with Southern Miss.
Moves
- Transferred from Southern Miss to Arkansas State, Jan 1, 2025.
A stat line in 44 games over five seasons.
2022 5 games
- Signed with Southern MissThree-star, out of Union
2025 13 games
The role got bigger.
- Transferred to Arkansas Statefrom Southern Miss
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
3 coaches2022–2023
Southern Miss
Played for 3 head coaches at 2 schools: Will Hall, Reed Stringer and Butch Jones.