Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 13-10vs Colgate | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | Season-high 3 yds |
| Total | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 |
#81
Tayte Vanderleest
Junior wide receiver for Central Michigan. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 220 lb · Muskegon, MI · Reeths-Puffer H.S.
Returning to Central Michigan for 2026
The numbers
3
receiving yards · 2026
1 catches · 3 per catch
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 rec, 3 yds, vs Colgate
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 wide receiver for Central Michigan. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearTayte Vanderleest
Second year in the Central Michigan receiving corps, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 3 rec yds, 1 receptions against Colgate, Week 2, 2026.
3 REC YDS · 1 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Central Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Matt Drinkall, all run-heavy, slow tempo offenses — 8-7 over that span.
2025Central Michigan7-6HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Central Michigan1-1HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
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 1 game: 1.0 REC/g, 3.0 YDS/g, 3.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Drinkall
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 | Central Michigan | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Central Michigan | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 13–10
vs Colgate
1 rec · 3 yds
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.
With A. H Flores — 57 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · QBR 24.4 · 122 rush yds (22 car) · 1 TD · D. Duley — 32 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 37 LONG
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Central Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Central Michigan
Returning around him
- 54% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- Transfer portal: -5 net (12 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Central Michigan · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #95
Background
2025 As a redshirt sophomore wide receiver, saw action in nine of 13 games … Listed as a backup wide receiver on the depth chart … Earned Academic All-MAC honors … Finished the year with two receptions for 19 yards with a long of 11 … Caught two passes for 19 yards with a long of 11 at Akron (10/...
The receiver room · Central Michigan
- #20Langston Lewis596 receiving yards · 2025
- #15Tommy McIntosh422 receiving yards · 2025
- #6Collin Payne87 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Nasir Williams76 receiving yards · 2025
- #81Tayte Vanderleest19 receiving yards · 2025
8 more on the roster · Central Michigan team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology