Running back, Alabama State (from Alabama), 2023–26
J.R. Gardner
- Number
- No. 21
- Height
- 6′0″
- Weight
- 195 lb
- Class (2026)
- Freshman
- Hometown
- Gulf Shores, AL
J.R. Gardner plays running back for Alabama State, after Alabama (2023–24).
2026 so far
8 rushing yards
Last game: at Arkansas–Pine Bluff, W 21–15
Next game: vs. Alabama A&M, Oct 31
Filled bars: wins; outlined: losses.
Team titles: SEC champions, 2023
Rushing
* The season in progress, so far.
| Season | Team | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Alabama | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2025 | Alabama State | 6 | 41 | 6.8 | 1 | 27 |
| 2026 | Alabama State | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Career | 10 | 54 | 5.4 | 1 | 27 | |
Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.
On the roster
| Season | Team | No. | Pos | Class | Ht | Wt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alabama | 21 | RB | Yr 1 | ||
| 2024 | Alabama | 21 | RB | Yr 2 | ||
| 2025 | Alabama State | 21 | RB | Yr 3 | ||
| 2026 | Alabama State | 21 | RB | Fr. (Yr 4) | 6′0″ | 195 |
As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.
Per play
| Season | Team | Plays | EPA/play | Pctile | Median | Total | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Alabama | 2 | -0.34 | – | – | -0.7 | – |
| 2025 | Alabama State (FCS) | 5 | -0.23 | – | – | -1.1 | – |
| 2026 | Alabama State (FCS) | 2 | 0.10 | – | – | 0.2 | – |
Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.
Game by game
2026 Alabama State 2 games, 8 rushing yards
| Date | Opponent | Result | Car | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | vs.Lane College | W 34–0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Oct 17 | at Arkansas–Pine Bluff | W 21–15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
2025 Alabama State 4 games, 41 rushing yards, 1 TD
| Date | Opponent | Result | Car | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27 | at Florida A&M | W 42–14 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 4 | vs. Bethune-Cookman | W 52–35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Oct 25 | vs. Alabama A&M | W 56–13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nov 27 | vs.Tuskegee | W 58–21 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
No box score in the source for Nov 15 at Mississippi Valley State, so that game is not listed.
2024 Alabama 1 game, 5 rushing yards
| Date | Opponent | Result | Car | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16 | vs. Mercer | W 52–7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.
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