Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 16-38@ Wake Forest | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 0 | 14 | Season-high 38 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 45-10vs Robert Morris | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 0 | 11 | |
| Total | 8 | 69 | 8.7 | 0 | 14 |
#2
Marcel Williams
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver for Akron. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 185 lb · Hollywood, FL · Blanche Ely | Marshall
CFB Index 59 · #136 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Akron 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 story
2026 wide receiver for Akron. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
The record fills in as he plays.
His career, year by yearMarcel Williams
Wins underneath on volume and route precision. Across four seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Doc Holliday and Joe Moorhead. In 2025 the league put his name on paper for the first time: All-MAC. The receipt: 38 rec yds, 4 receptions against Wake Forest — Week 1, 2026.
38 REC YDS · 4 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
The week the volume broke through — put up 206 yds vs Kent State.Kent State · L 35-422025
202511 games
- All-MAC
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-MAC
All-MAC mention (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2017–2026
2 coaches2017–2018
Akron
Coaching transition mid-career: Terry Bowden → Joe Moorhead. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2017Marshall8-5HC: Doc Holliday · Balanced
2018Marshall9-4HC: Doc Holliday · Balanced
2025Akron5-7HC: Joe Moorhead · Balanced
2026Akron1-1HC: Joe Moorhead · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Concern: rec 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: 4.0 REC/g, 34.5 YDS/g, 8.7 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Joe Moorhead
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
In the mix to repeat All-MAC
Based on 2025: #6 of 38 Mid-American WRs
How the All-MAC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. 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.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 45–10
4 rec · 31 yds
Dominant 35-point win at home against Robert Morris.
With C. Broughton — 227 yds · 4 TD · 0 INT · QBR 50.3 · 71 rush yds (13 car) · S. Patrick — 67 rush yds (8 car)
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · Robert Morris · 3&5 · Q2 · EPA +2.38No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short middle to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR49, for 11 yards to the RMU43 (#10 N.Roach; #44 J.Lopinto), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Robert Morris · 3&6 · Q1 · EPA -2.07No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short middle to #2 M.Williams caught at RMU41, for 7 yards to the RMU37 fumbled by #2 M.Williams at RMU41 forced by #44 J.Lopinto recovered by RMU #0 D.Johnson at RMU37 #0 D.Johnson return 0 yards to the RMU37, End Of Play
- Week 1 · Wake Forest · 3&7 · Q1 · EPA +1.98(01:44) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short right to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR28, for 10 yards to the AKR38 (#6 R.Tongue; #8 B.Johnson), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Wake Forest · 2&2 · Q2 · EPA +1.07(04:29) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short left to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR47, for 14 yards to the AKR47 (#8 B.Johnson), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Wake Forest · 3&14 · Q2 · EPA +0.64No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short right to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR44, for 9 yards to the WFU46 (#94 Z.Lohavichan; #43 F.Cusano)
- Week 2 · Robert Morris · 2&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.61No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short right to #2 M.Williams caught at RMU45, for 2 yards to the RMU41 (#9 A.Wilson)
- Week 2 · Robert Morris · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.58No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short right to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR21, for 11 yards to the AKR25 (#26 R.Woods), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Wake Forest · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +0.09(11:39) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 C.Broughton pass complete short left to #2 M.Williams caught at AKR30, for 5 yards to the AKR30, End Of Play
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Akron
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Akron
Returning around him
- 92% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- Transfer portal: -3 net (15 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Akron · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #121 · 2026 recruiting class #132
DNA match
Player DNA
Slot Technician
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Makai Lemon’s 2024 season.
83%match
All-Big TenNFL Rd 1 · Pk 20
Matches Makai on
Total EPA (college ability)
TD rate
Reception volume
Differs from Makai on
Class year (lower)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Terry Lockett’s path through Eastern Michigan.
98%match
All-MAC
#3
Dai'Jean Dixon
98%
#4
Jermaine Jackson
97%
Matches Terry on
Height
Yards per reception
Weight
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Vernell Brown III's sophomore season at Florida (2025).
Matches Vernell on
Yards / reception
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Vernell on
TD rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Marcel Williams
Background
2025: Named 2nd Team All-MAC... appeared and started all 12 games… led the team with 45 receptions for 641 yards and two touchdowns… averaged 14.2 yards per catch and 53.4 receiving yards per game… recorded a season-high 14 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State (11/11)… h...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology