Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 0-45@ Penn State | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 | Season-high 6 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 28-26vs Middle Tennessee | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 | |
| Total | 6 | 12 | 2.2 | 1 | 4 |
#21
TJ Lester
Sophomore running back for Marshall. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′9″ · 205 lb · Milton, GA
Returning to Marshall for 2026
The numbers
12
rushing yards · 2026
1 TD · 2 per carry
2 games into 2026 so far
The play that turned itSwung Marshall from 62% to 96% to win.Middle Tennessee at Marshall · 28-26
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Marshall. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to West Georgia in 2025.
TJ Lester
The receipt: 6 rush yds, 1 rush TD against Middle Tennessee — Week 2, 2026.
12 RUSH YDS · 1 RUSH TD · 6 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with West Georgia3-star out of Milton
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Marshall
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Marshall1-1HC: Tony Gibson · Run-leaning, slow tempo
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: 6.0 YDS/g, 2.2 YPC, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tony Gibson
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 | Marshall | 6 | 12 | 2.0 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 6 | 12 | 2.0 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 28–26
6 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 2 at home.
With C. Heimbach — 48 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 54 LONG · C. Del Rio-Wilson — 92 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 44.2 · 43 rush yds (10 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Marshall
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Marshall
Returning around him
- 99% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- Transfer portal: +6 net (28 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Marshall · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #97 · 2026 recruiting class #123
Background
HERD FILE: Lester was rated as a three-star transfer portal prospect by 247 after a 2025 season in which he rushed for 432 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman at West Georgia.
The backfield · Marshall
- #6Joshon Barbie249 rushing yards · 2025
- #10Judah Price34 rushing yards · 2025
- #24Tony Mathis Jr.18 rushing yards · 2025
- #21TJ Lester2 games · 2026
- #22Anthony Quinn Jr.1 game · 2026
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology