Jalen Buckley is one of the most productive running backs in Western Michigan history. He has run for 1,000-plus yards in two of his three seasons and continues to change the outlook of the Mustangs’ program. As we enter the summer portion of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle, this article will assess Buckley ahead of his final season in the Mid-American Conference.
Jalen Buckley 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Career Statistics
- 2699 Rushing Yards
- 5.4 Yards Per Attempt
- 71.5 Yards Per Game
- 28 Touchdowns, 5 Fumbles
- 84 Missed Tackles Forced
- 1790 Yards After Contact
- 71.8 Average Offensive Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 74.3 Average Rushing Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 56.3 Average Receiving Grade (Pro Football Focus)
Player Background
Buckley is an easy individual to root for. Coming out of Batavia High School in Illinois, he wasn’t assigned any stars by the major recruiting services like On3 or 24/7 Sports but that didn’t stop his football dream. In 2022, he would walk on at Western Michigan and remain buried on the depth chart until an injury resulted in minimal opportunities. After flashing enough potential in limited action, he would earn a scholarship ahead of the 2023 season.
Buckley retained his freshman eligibility and was undoubtedly one of the best players in his class. He was named to the Freshman All-American Team and recognized as the best freshman in the MAC after rushing for over 1,000 yards in eleven games. After posting just 683 yards and six wins in 2024, the Mustangs and Buckley bounced back in a big way this past season. They won their first conference championship since 2016 and picked up their first bowl victory in four years.
Best Tools for Jalen Buckley
- His foot speed consistently mirrors his processing speed; incredibly quick to notice occupied lanes and attack the defense with his secondary plan
- Explosive lower half that allows him to embarrass defenders on jump cuts behind the line of scrimmage; possesses incredibly loose ankles to stop on a dime
- Will be gap and zone versatile at the NFL level; he does a good job of staying tight with blockers inside while possessing enough lateral burst with good vision to operate in a zone scheme
- Demonstrates a solid base as a blocker; impressive ability to navigate and find blitzing defenders and showcased good lateral movement combined with a solid anchor against Miami (OH) last season
@WMU_Football RB Jalen Buckley is an early draft crush of mine.
A former 0-star recruit in 2022, Buckley possesses an impressive lower half that maintains explosion in and out of breaks.
Check out this long TD run against Miami (OH) in the 2025 MAC Championship game. pic.twitter.com/kibci7HO9i
— Down Set Scout (@DownSetScout) June 25, 2026
Tools to Improve for Jalen Buckley
- Lack of production and exposure as a pass catcher; simple route tree to this point of his career and rarely contributes or finds himself on the third down call sheet
- Runs with an incredibly high pad level and is pushed back against singular defenders far too often; he tends to tuck his head prior to initiating contact and lacks elite overall play strength
- Isn’t an overly creative runner at the second/third level; instead of utilizing spin moves or a solid juke package he will rely on his one-cut ability to make defenders miss
- The football can be easy access for defenders when Buckley opts to cut back behind the line of scrimmage; he exposes the ball outside of his frame and uses just one arm to protect the football
Early Player Summary
Jalen Buckley is an easy player to root for in college football and will have plenty of fans throughout the draft process in April. He played through a fractured wrist and still managed to lead Western Michigan to a MAC Championship after posting nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. This is a player who consistently showcased break away speed at the college level but the question stands as to whether or not he possesses enough burst to break away at the next level.
The 2027 NFL Draft has talent at the top with Kewan Lacy, Jadan Baugh and potentially Ahmad Hardy but it lacks depth beyond the top. With another productive season, Buckley could separate himself from the other running backs with middle-round projections. He should receive an invite to a college all-star game like the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine Bowl. As a member of the 2022 recruiting class, Buckley will be an older draft prospect but he clearly has the heart, frame and makeup to contribute at the next level.
Main Photo Courtesy of Jeff Hanisch – Imagn Images
