Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 35-7vs Eastern Michigan | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | 8 | Season-high 5 yds |
| Total | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | 8 |
#20
Zion Gist
Freshman running back for Michigan State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 209 lb · Frankfort, IL · Lincoln-Way East
Returning to Michigan State for 2026
The numbers
5
rushing yards · 2026
1.7 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 rush yds, vs Eastern Michigan
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 running back for Michigan State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Michigan State in 2025.
Zion Gist
The receipt: 5 rush yds against Eastern Michigan — Week 2, 2026.
5 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 3 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Michigan State3-star out of Lincoln-Way East
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Michigan State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Michigan State2-0HC: Pat Fitzgerald · Run-heavy, fast 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 1 game: 5.0 YDS/g, 1.7 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald
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 | Michigan State | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Michigan State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Michigan State
Returning around him
- 21% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 2 Michigan State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -18 net (28 in / 46 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Michigan State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #61 · 2026 recruiting class #45
Background
2025 SEASON: Redshirted . . . did not see game action . . . named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week twice (vs. Iowa and Minnesota). HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Helped lead Lincoln-Way East High School to a 12-1 record and the IHSA Class 8A semifinals . . . ranked one of the best overall...
The backfield · Michigan State
- Camryn Edwards1,240 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Marvis Parrish576 rushing yards · 2025
- #7Brandon Tullis297 rushing yards · 2025
- #4Jaziun Patterson296 rushing yards · 2025
- #20Zion Gist1 game · 2026
6 more on the roster · Michigan State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology