Jay Ducker is a running back and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played at four programs during his collegiate career, including Northern Illinois, Memphis, Sam Houston State, and Temple. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Ducker committed to Northern Illinois in the 2020 class and made an instant impact as a true freshman in 2021, rushing for 1,184 yards and three touchdowns while earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors and ranking 24th nationally in rushing yards per game. He transferred to Memphis in 2022 and led the Tigers in rushing with 544 yards and seven touchdowns before a diminished role in 2023 prompted another move, this time to Sam Houston State under head coach K.C. Keeler, where he rushed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games during the 2024 season. When Keeler departed for Temple, Ducker followed, starting every game as the Owls' featured back in 2025 and rushing for 809 yards and seven touchdowns on 157 carries at 5.2 yards per carry while adding two receiving touchdowns. He became the first player in FBS history to rush for 100 or more yards for four different schools, surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards across his nomadic but productive career.
Standing 5-10 and 210 pounds, Ducker brings a balanced and experienced profile to NFL evaluations, with legitimate three-down utility built on his vision, contact balance, and pass-catching development throughout his career. He runs with good patience, decisive one-cut instincts, and the ability to generate extra yards after contact, traits his coaches have consistently praised. His receiving usage expanded at Temple in a spread system that utilized him on swing and flat routes, adding a dimension to his game that raises his floor as a potential contributor in the passing game at the next level. His extensive multi-program career, while unusual, reflects adaptability, a strong work ethic, and the ability to produce in different schemes against varying levels of competition. Ducker projects as a late-round pick or priority undrafted free agent with the experience, versatility, and functional skill set to compete for a depth role in an NFL backfield.
