Game log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 26-45@ Tennessee | 2 | -2 | -1.0 | 0 | 3 | Season-high -2 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 27-20vs UConn | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 2 | -2 | -1.0 | 0 | 3 |
#21
Malachi James
Junior running back for Eastern Michigan. 2025: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 202 lb · Willingboro, NJ · Burlington City
Transferred Syracuse → Eastern Michigan for 2026
The numbers
-2
rushing yards · 2025
-1 per carry
2 games into 2025 so far -- Best game: -2 rush yds, vs Tennessee
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 running back for Eastern Michigan. 2025: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Syracuse in 2024.
- Transferred from Syracuse to Eastern Michigan in 2026.
Malachi James
Malachi James arrived at Eastern Michigan from Syracuse.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- portal record
His career
20244 games
- Signed with Syracuse3-star out of Burlington City
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Syracuse
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Eastern Michigan
2025Syracuse
2026Eastern Michigan
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Fran Brown — 13-12 over that span.
2024Syracuse10-3HC: Fran Brown · Pass-leaning, fast tempo
2025Syracuse3-9HC: Fran Brown · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
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: -1.0 YDS/g, -1.0 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Chris Creighton
Pass share
58.2%
107 pass / 77 run
Plays / game
61.3
3 games
Team sack rate
5.1%
117 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Pass-leaning, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Game log
Background
EMU: 2026: Joins the program as a transfer after two seasons at Syracuse...Enrolled for the Winter 2026 semester...SYRACUSE: Played in eight games over two seasons for the Orange…Ran the ball two times for -2 yards…Had nine kickoff returns for 168 yards…2025: Saw game action in two contests – aga...
The backfield · Eastern Michigan
- #24Joey Mattord48 rushing yards · 2025
- #28Braydon Bennett8 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Malachi James-2 rushing yards · 2025
- #27XaVior Tyusno box-score line yet
- #15Amareon Blue3 games · 2026
2 more on the roster · Eastern Michigan team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology