Each year, there are a small handful of small school prospects who burst through the noise to make an impact. In a class that is perceived as weaker, could we see more FCS, Division II, or Division III players be selected? One such player with NFL aspirations is Findlay’s Jayden Farmer. Farmer dominated for the Oilers and tested well at the University of Toledo Pro Day, catching the eye of some scouts.
2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jayden Farmer
Measurables
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 241 pounds
Hands: 9.25″
Arms: 31.630″
40-yard: 4.54
Vertical: 39.5″
Broad jump: 10′
RAS: 8.08
School: Findlay
Jayden Farmer NFL Draft Overview
Out of Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky, Farmer was wholly unranked as part of the 2020 recruiting class. Over his final two seasons in high school, Farmer broke out. As a junior, he rushed for 786 yards and 11 touchdowns on 127 carries. Then, as a senior, he took off. On 176 carries, Farmer ran for 1,781 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Due to the fact that he was unranked, Farmer elected to kickstart his career at the Division II level at Findlay. The 2020 season was pushed to Spring 2021, and in that season, Farmer appeared in two games, running the ball 10 times for 30 yards for the Oilers. In the fall, for the normal 2021 season, Farmer did not see the field.
He started to kick it in gear a bit in 2022, appearing in 10 games. In those 10 games, Farmer amassed 390 yards and five touchdowns on 82 carries. He earned his first career 100-yard game in the win at Kentucky Wesleyan. Then, he only appeared in two games in 2023.
His fifth-year redshirt junior season was the beginning of what he could do. Farmer started nine games for the Oilers and appeared in one other. In that time, he racked up 662 yards and eight touchdowns on 136 rushing attempts. In his breakout season, Farmer had three 100-yard games, and his first multi-touchdown game came against Walsh. He was named to the first-team All-G-MAC team.
Last year, it was another step forward for the Findlay running back. In 12 games, he made eight starts. He put up his best season in his last with 859 yards and a G-MAC-best nine touchdowns on 185 carries. Farmer ran for over 100 yards three times in a span of four games toward the end of the year and had as many two-touchdown games. Again, he was named a first-team G-MAC player.
Projection: UDFA
Bottom Line on Jayden Farmer
Taking a flyer on a small-school prospect is always a risk. However, there are some diamonds in the rough among the leagues you don’t usually watch.
Farmer was a dominant back for Findlay over the last two seasons and could make a role for himself at the next level. He has decent size and impressive speed for that size.
Obviously, there is always the caveat that he played at a lower level. However, he will be worth a call as the draft is winding down. If a team doesn’t take a chance on him in the seventh round, he would be worth a priority UDFA signing.
Main Image: © Matt Lunsford-Imagn Images
