Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Eastern Illinois | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | Season-high 2 yds |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 |
#28
Niko Castillo
Freshman running back for Minnesota. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 235 lb · Schuylkill Haven, PA · Schuylkill Haven Area
Returning to Minnesota for 2026
The numbers
2
rushing yards · 2026
0.5 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rush yds, vs Eastern Illinois
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 running back for Minnesota. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Minnesota in 2026.
Niko Castillo
The receipt on tape: 2 rush yds against Eastern Illinois, Week 1, 2026.
2 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 4 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with Minnesota3-star out of Schuylkill Haven
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Minnesota
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Minnesota1-1HC: P.J. Fleck · Pass-leaning
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 1 game: 2.0 YDS/g, 0.5 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
P.J. Fleck
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
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 59–7
2 rush yds (4 car)
Dominant 52-point win at home against Eastern Illinois.
With J. Tracy — 5 rec · 98 yds · D. Lindsey — 264 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 86.2 · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Minnesota
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Minnesota
Returning around him
- 65% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 1 Minnesota player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (19 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Minnesota · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #41 · 2026 recruiting class #28
Background
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Schuykill Haven High School in Schuykill Haven, Pennsylvania • wore No. 8 for the Hurricanes and was coached by Mike Farr • in his career, recorded 2,756 all-purpose yards (including 1,743 rushing yards and 603 receiving yards), 40 touchdowns, 252 tackles, 13.0 sacks and 7 i...
The backfield · Minnesota
- #1Darius Taylor670 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Grant Washington132 rushing yards · 2025
- #2A.J. Turner64 rushing yards · 2025
- #9Xavier Ford35 rushing yards · 2025
- #28Niko Castillo1 game · 2026
4 more on the roster · Minnesota team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology