Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Eastern Illinois | 3 | 15 | 5.0 | 1 | 10 | Season-high 15 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 13-38vs Mississippi State | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 4 | |
| Total | 5 | 22 | 4.2 | 1 | 10 |
#9
Xavier Ford
Sophomore running back for Minnesota. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 210 lb · Leesville, LA · Leesville
Returning to Minnesota for 2026
The numbers
22
rushing yards · 2026
1 TD · 4.4 per carry
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 15 rush yds, 1 TD, vs Eastern Illinois
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Minnesota. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Minnesota in 2025.
Xavier Ford
He has spent two seasons in the Minnesota backfield. One game to point at: 15 rush yds, 1 rush TD against Eastern Illinois — Week 1, 2026.
22 RUSH YDS · 1 RUSH TD · 5 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Minnesota3-star out of Leesville
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Minnesota
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under P.J. Fleck — 9-6 over that span.
2025Minnesota8-5HC: P.J. Fleck · Balanced, slow tempo
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 2 games: 11.0 YDS/g, 4.2 YPC, 0.5 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
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 59–7
15 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD
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
PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. 2025 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Redshirted • played in two games • rushed 10 times for 35 yards • made his Minnesota and collegiate debut against Northwestern State and rushed two times for 10 yards • rushed eight times for 25 yards at Iowa. HIGH S...
The backfield · Minnesota
- #1Darius Taylor670 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Grant Washington132 rushing yards · 2025
- #2A.J. Turner64 rushing yards · 2025
- #9Xavier Ford35 rushing yards · 2025
- #22Jaron Thomas15 rushing yards · 2025
4 more on the roster · Minnesota team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology