James Gilbert is a Featured Back for Ball State. James's 2016 season ranks in the 8th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 243 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
| Breece Hall | Iowa State | 2020 | 301 | 0.340 | 4.5 | 102.3 |
| Eno Benjamin | Arizona State | 2018 | 316 | 0.330 | 4.6 | 104.3 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @Georgia State | W31-21 | -12.1 | 29 | 160 | 5.5 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.19 |
| 2 | @Indiana | L20-30 | 4.6 | 12 | 54 | 4.5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.17 |
| 3 | vsEastern Kentucky | W41-14 | — | 21 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 18 · Rush Yds 117 · Avg 6.5 · Rush TD 0
| 67 |
| 3.2 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 0.07 |
| 4 | @Florida Atlantic | W31-27 | -14.1 | 12 | 49 | 4.1 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.06 |
| 5 | vsNorthern Illinois | L24-31 | -2.4 | 22 | 119 | 5.4 | 3 | — | — | — | 0.34 |
| 6 | @Central Michigan | L21-24 | -6.1 | 27 | 141 | 5.2 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0.31 |
| 7 | @Buffalo | W31-21 | -18.8 | 34 | 264 | 7.8 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.36 |
| 8 | vsAkron | L25-35 | -5.6 | 24 | 133 | 5.5 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.24 |
| 10 | vsWestern Michigan | L20-52 | 11.5 | 29 | 155 | 5.3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.11 |
| 11 | vsEastern Michigan | L41-48 | -8.2 | 12 | 54 | 4.5 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.30 |
| 12 | @Toledo | L19-37 | 12.3 | 11 | 19 | 1.7 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.69 |
| 13 | @Miami (OH) | L20-21 | -6.1 | 18 | 117 | 6.5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.18 |