Sam Backer — Minnesota St.

AT A GLANCE

SAM BACKER

RB · MINNESOTA ST.

DOWNLOAD AS PDF PRODUCE PNG CARD Minnesota St. TEAM REPORT

2026 SEASON · NSIC · PLAYER TREND REPORT

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

UNDEFEATED SEASON

2026 — 9-0 (games on file)

20-TOUCHDOWN SEASON

2025 season (21 total)

1,000-YARD RUSHER

2024 season

2026 SEASON (9 GMS): RUSHING: 96 CAR, 630 YDS, 8 TD RECEIVING: 9 REC, 59 YDS, 0 TD

CAREER (41 GMS): RUSHING: 491 CAR, 2694 YDS, 34 TD RECEIVING: 55 REC, 486 YDS, 2 TD

TREND NOTES

Sam Backer has gone without a receiving TD in 10 consecutive games — last: 11/29/2025 @ Uindy.
Sam Backer has averaged 129.0 rushing yards per game in his 2 career meetings with MARY, against 62.5 versus everyone else -- more than double his usual output.
Sam Backer has averaged 70.0 rushing yards per game over his first 9 contests this season, and meets a middling test next up: AUGUSTANA (SD)'s mediocre run defense has conceded 199.0 yards per game over its last 10 games.
Sam Backer has averaged 44.8 rushing yards per game at home this season against 90.2 per game on the road.
Sam Backer needs 14 more receiving yards to reach 500 in his career — he is averaging 11.9 per game.

WIN SHARES

His share of his team's actual wins. A team's win shares add up to its win total; see “Advanced Metrics Explained” on the Leaders page for the method.

Season	Win Shares	Offense	Team wins	Share of wins	Division rank
2026	0.69	0.69	9	8%	93 of 11,863 (D2)
2025	1.16	1.16	10	12%	51 of 11,835 (D2)
2024	0.94	0.94	11	9%	94 of 10,583 (D2)
2023	0.04	0.04	9	0%	4,408 of 13,153 (D2)

2026 GAME LOG

DATE	OPPONENT	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
08/27/2026	@ COLORADO MESA	6	31	5.2	0	2	3	1.5	0
09/05/2026	@ MARY	11	165	15.0	2	--	--	--	--
09/12/2026	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	11	33	3.0	0	2	29	14.5	0
09/19/2026	vs. NORTHERN ST.	11	23	2.1	1	1	8	8.0	0
09/26/2026	@ SIOUX FALLS	11	61	5.5	1	1	2	2.0	0
10/03/2026	vs. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	11	95	8.6	2	2	12	6.0	0
10/10/2026	@ WINONA ST.	13	131	10.1	2	--	--	--	--
10/24/2026	vs. WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	28	2.3	0	--	--	--	--
10/31/2026	@ SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	10	63	6.3	0	1	5	5.0	0
TOTALS	9 GMS	96	630	6.6	8	9	59	6.6	0

DATE	OPPONENT	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
2023 SEASON
08/31/2023	@ SIOUX FALLS	3	6	2.0	0	--	--	--	--
09/09/2023	vs. WAYNE ST. (NE)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
09/16/2023	@ MINOT ST.	13	61	4.7	0	--	--	--	--
09/23/2023	vs. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
09/30/2023	@ BEMIDJI ST.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
10/07/2023	vs. MSU MOORHEAD	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
10/14/2023	vs. WESTERN ORE.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
10/21/2023	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
10/28/2023	vs. SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
11/04/2023	@ WINONA ST.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
11/11/2023	vs. MINN. DULUTH	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
11/18/2023	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2024 SEASON
08/29/2024	@ NORTHWEST MO. ST.	16	104	6.5	0	1	4	4.0	0
09/07/2024	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	6	22	3.7	0	1	6	6.0	0
09/14/2024	@ WAYNE ST. (NE)	13	159	12.2	1	1	9	9.0	0
09/21/2024	vs. MINOT ST.	6	28	4.7	1	1	12	12.0	0
09/28/2024	@ CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	10	33	3.3	0	1	20	20.0	0
10/05/2024	vs. SIOUX FALLS	8	16	2.0	0	--	--	--	--
10/12/2024	@ MSU MOORHEAD	19	130	6.8	0	2	20	10.0	0
10/26/2024	vs. AUGUSTANA (SD)	5	21	4.2	0	2	15	7.5	0
11/02/2024	@ NORTHERN ST.	17	72	4.2	0	2	31	15.5	0
11/09/2024	vs. MARY	14	93	6.6	1	2	24	12.0	0
11/16/2024	@ MINN. DULUTH	14	38	2.7	1	1	28	28.0	0
11/23/2024	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	13	48	3.7	0	1	3	3.0	0
11/30/2024	@ CSU PUEBLO	17	65	3.8	0	1	9	9.0	0
12/07/2024	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	15	79	5.3	1	--	--	--	--
12/14/2024	@ VALDOSTA ST.	10	109	10.9	2	1	13	13.0	0
2025 SEASON
08/28/2025	vs. NORTHWEST MO. ST.	21	110	5.2	2	2	9	4.5	0
09/06/2025	vs. MINOT ST.	12	30	2.5	2	--	--	--	--
09/13/2025	@ MINN. DULUTH	12	47	3.9	0	1	-2	-2.0	0
09/20/2025	@ JAMESTOWN	11	87	7.9	1	1	4	4.0	0
09/27/2025	vs. SIOUX FALLS	14	69	4.9	2	6	63	10.5	1
10/04/2025	@ CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	21	114	5.4	3	1	14	14.0	0
10/11/2025	vs. WINONA ST.	13	71	5.5	2	2	10	5.0	0
10/25/2025	@ WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	38	3.2	0	1	15	15.0	0
11/01/2025	vs. SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	14	103	7.4	1	3	22	7.3	0
11/08/2025	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	18	78	4.3	2	1	10	10.0	0
11/15/2025	vs. MSU MOORHEAD	14	42	3.0	1	--	--	--	--
11/22/2025	@ FINDLAY	6	28	4.7	1	3	34	11.3	0
11/29/2025	@ UINDY	21	116	5.5	2	6	47	7.8	1
12/06/2025	@ FERRIS ST.	7	47	6.7	0	2	7	3.5	0
2026 SEASON
08/27/2026	@ COLORADO MESA	6	31	5.2	0	2	3	1.5	0
09/05/2026	@ MARY	11	165	15.0	2	--	--	--	--
09/12/2026	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	11	33	3.0	0	2	29	14.5	0
09/19/2026	vs. NORTHERN ST.	11	23	2.1	1	1	8	8.0	0
09/26/2026	@ SIOUX FALLS	11	61	5.5	1	1	2	2.0	0
10/03/2026	vs. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	11	95	8.6	2	2	12	6.0	0
10/10/2026	@ WINONA ST.	13	131	10.1	2	--	--	--	--
10/24/2026	vs. WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	28	2.3	0	--	--	--	--
10/31/2026	@ SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	10	63	6.3	0	1	5	5.0	0
CAREER TOTALS	50 GMS	491	2694	5.5	34	55	486	8.8	2

"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered for this player.

PROJECTED GAME LOG (REMAINING SCHEDULE)

DATE	OPPONENT	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
11/07	vs. AUGUSTANA (SD)	11.4	63.0	5.5	1.1	1.9	14.6	7.7	0.1
11/14	@ MSU MOORHEAD	11.5	61.4	5.3	1.0	1.8	13.7	7.7	0.1
PROJ	SEASON TOTALS (9 real + 2 proj)	118.9	754.4	6.3	10.1	12.7	87.3	6.9	0.2

Projected by the same share-of-team-projection mechanism as the matchup reports' projected box scores; untracked opponents omitted. Share blend: 9 game(s) of 26-27 weighted 75% against 25-26; returning players held only 31% of 25-26 receiving -- the departed share is left unassigned rather than handed to the returners (capped at 2x their demonstrated share).

PROJECT STATS — VS. ANY OPPONENT

Search any team to project SAM BACKER’s stat line against them (neutral site) — the same share-of-team-projection mechanism as the schedule above.

LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS — 2025

DATE	OPPONENT	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
08/28/2025	vs. NORTHWEST MO. ST.	21	110	5.2	2	2	9	4.5	0
09/06/2025	vs. MINOT ST.	12	30	2.5	2	--	--	--	--
09/13/2025	@ MINN. DULUTH	12	47	3.9	0	1	-2	-2.0	0
09/20/2025	@ JAMESTOWN	11	87	7.9	1	1	4	4.0	0
09/27/2025	vs. SIOUX FALLS	14	69	4.9	2	6	63	10.5	1
10/04/2025	@ CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	21	114	5.4	3	1	14	14.0	0
10/11/2025	vs. WINONA ST.	13	71	5.5	2	2	10	5.0	0
10/25/2025	@ WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	38	3.2	0	1	15	15.0	0
11/01/2025	vs. SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	14	103	7.4	1	3	22	7.3	0
11/08/2025	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	18	78	4.3	2	1	10	10.0	0
11/15/2025	vs. MSU MOORHEAD	14	42	3.0	1	--	--	--	--
11/22/2025	@ FINDLAY	6	28	4.7	1	3	34	11.3	0
11/29/2025	@ UINDY	21	116	5.5	2	6	47	7.8	1
12/06/2025	@ FERRIS ST.	7	47	6.7	0	2	7	3.5	0
TOTALS	14 GMS	196	980	5.0	19	29	233	8.0	2

HIGHS & LOWS

STAT	HIGH	GAME	LOW	GAME
RUSH YDS	165	09/05/2026 vs MARY	6	08/31/2023 vs Sioux Falls
CAR	21	08/28/2025 vs Northwest Mo. St.	3	08/31/2023 vs Sioux Falls
RUSH TD	3	10/04/2025 vs Concordia-St. Paul	0	08/31/2023 vs Sioux Falls
REC YDS	63	09/27/2025 vs Sioux Falls	-2	09/13/2025 vs Minn. Duluth
REC	6	09/27/2025 vs Sioux Falls	1	08/29/2024 vs Northwest Mo. St.
REC TD	1	09/27/2025 vs Sioux Falls	0	08/29/2024 vs Northwest Mo. St.

STAT	HIGH	GAME	LOW	GAME
RUSH YDS	165	09/05/2026 vs MARY	23	09/19/2026 vs Northern St.
CAR	13	10/10/2026 vs Winona St.	6	08/27/2026 vs Colorado Mesa
RUSH TD	2	09/05/2026 vs MARY	0	08/27/2026 vs Colorado Mesa
REC YDS	29	09/12/2026 vs Bemidji St.	2	09/26/2026 vs Sioux Falls
REC	2	08/27/2026 vs Colorado Mesa	1	09/19/2026 vs Northern St.
REC TD	0	08/27/2026 vs Colorado Mesa	0	08/27/2026 vs Colorado Mesa

CAREER, SEASON BY SEASON

SEASON	GP	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
2023	3	16	67	4.2	0	0	0	--	0
2024	15	183	1017	5.6	7	17	194	11.4	0
2025	14	196	980	5.0	19	29	233	8.0	2
2026	9	96	630	6.6	8	9	59	6.6	0
TOTALS	41	491	2694	5.5	34	55	486	8.8	2

CAREER GAME LOG

DATE	OPPONENT	CAR	RUSH YDS	YPC	TD	REC	REC YDS	YPC	TD
08/31/2023	@ SIOUX FALLS	3	6	2.0	0	--	--	--	--
09/16/2023	@ MINOT ST.	13	61	4.7	0	--	--	--	--
10/07/2023	vs. MSU MOORHEAD	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
08/29/2024	@ NORTHWEST MO. ST.	16	104	6.5	0	1	4	4.0	0
09/07/2024	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	6	22	3.7	0	1	6	6.0	0
09/14/2024	@ WAYNE ST. (NE)	13	159	12.2	1	1	9	9.0	0
09/21/2024	vs. MINOT ST.	6	28	4.7	1	1	12	12.0	0
09/28/2024	@ CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	10	33	3.3	0	1	20	20.0	0
10/05/2024	vs. SIOUX FALLS	8	16	2.0	0	--	--	--	--
10/12/2024	@ MSU MOORHEAD	19	130	6.8	0	2	20	10.0	0
10/26/2024	vs. AUGUSTANA (SD)	5	21	4.2	0	2	15	7.5	0
11/02/2024	@ NORTHERN ST.	17	72	4.2	0	2	31	15.5	0
11/09/2024	vs. MARY	14	93	6.6	1	2	24	12.0	0
11/16/2024	@ MINN. DULUTH	14	38	2.7	1	1	28	28.0	0
11/23/2024	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	13	48	3.7	0	1	3	3.0	0
11/30/2024	@ CSU PUEBLO	17	65	3.8	0	1	9	9.0	0
12/07/2024	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	15	79	5.3	1	--	--	--	--
12/14/2024	@ VALDOSTA ST.	10	109	10.9	2	1	13	13.0	0
08/28/2025	vs. NORTHWEST MO. ST.	21	110	5.2	2	2	9	4.5	0
09/06/2025	vs. MINOT ST.	12	30	2.5	2	--	--	--	--
09/13/2025	@ MINN. DULUTH	12	47	3.9	0	1	-2	-2.0	0
09/20/2025	@ JAMESTOWN	11	87	7.9	1	1	4	4.0	0
09/27/2025	vs. SIOUX FALLS	14	69	4.9	2	6	63	10.5	1
10/04/2025	@ CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	21	114	5.4	3	1	14	14.0	0
10/11/2025	vs. WINONA ST.	13	71	5.5	2	2	10	5.0	0
10/25/2025	@ WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	38	3.2	0	1	15	15.0	0
11/01/2025	vs. SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	14	103	7.4	1	3	22	7.3	0
11/08/2025	@ AUGUSTANA (SD)	18	78	4.3	2	1	10	10.0	0
11/15/2025	vs. MSU MOORHEAD	14	42	3.0	1	--	--	--	--
11/22/2025	@ FINDLAY	6	28	4.7	1	3	34	11.3	0
11/29/2025	@ UINDY	21	116	5.5	2	6	47	7.8	1
12/06/2025	@ FERRIS ST.	7	47	6.7	0	2	7	3.5	0
08/27/2026	@ COLORADO MESA	6	31	5.2	0	2	3	1.5	0
09/05/2026	@ MARY	11	165	15.0	2	--	--	--	--
09/12/2026	vs. BEMIDJI ST.	11	33	3.0	0	2	29	14.5	0
09/19/2026	vs. NORTHERN ST.	11	23	2.1	1	1	8	8.0	0
09/26/2026	@ SIOUX FALLS	11	61	5.5	1	1	2	2.0	0
10/03/2026	vs. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	11	95	8.6	2	2	12	6.0	0
10/10/2026	@ WINONA ST.	13	131	10.1	2	--	--	--	--
10/24/2026	vs. WAYNE ST. (NE)	12	28	2.3	0	--	--	--	--
10/31/2026	@ SOUTHWEST MINN. ST.	10	63	6.3	0	1	5	5.0	0
TOTALS	41 GMS	491	2694	5.5	34	55	486	8.8	2

NSIC LEADERS — WHERE BACKER RANKS

Season stats, all league members' players; minimums: 15 att (QBR, Pass Yds/Gm), 5 rec (Rec YPC), 10 car (Rush YPC).

RUSH YDS

1	HANK KRAFT	NS	1504
2	BRANDON HINES JR.	MS	1218
3	BREYLON BLOUNT	A(	910
4	DAWSON FORGY	WS(	778
5	CONNOR CARVER	BS	773
6	DREW HUEBNER	MM	673
7	DERRICK JOHNSON	MD	662
8	SAM BACKER	MS	630
9	BRENNAN HAYES	WS(	586
10	BUBBA TANN III	SF	576

RUSH YDS/GM

1	HANK KRAFT	NS	167.1
2	BRANDON HINES JR.	MS	135.3
3	BREYLON BLOUNT	A(	101.1
4	DAWSON FORGY	WS(	97.2
5	CONNOR CARVER	BS	96.6
6	DERRICK JOHNSON	MD	82.8
7	DREW HUEBNER	MM	74.8
8	BUBBA TANN III	SF	72.0
9	SAM BACKER	MS	70.0
10	JOSH LANICFORT	SMS	67.0

RUSH YPC

1	HANK KRAFT	NS	8.8
2	BRANDON HINES JR.	MS	8.8
3	FRANCIS O'MALLEY	MD	8.5
4	JERROR KOUNG	CP	8.4
5	EMMANUEL DIERS	SMS	7.1
6	TYSON BRANDT	MM	7.1
7	MAX GRAND	A(	7.0
8	RYDER PATTERSON	MD	6.7
9	SAM BACKER	MS	6.6
10	NOAH SMITH	WS	6.5

Rushing	252 yds · 39 car · 6.5 YPC · 3 TD
Rushing Success Rate	46.2% (GT-Adj 46.2%)
Receiving	40 yds · 5/5 · 8.0 YPR · 0 TD
Catch Rate	100.0%
Receiving Success Rate	60.0%

Rushing & Receiving — Season

Situational Splits