JM #38

Jaleel McLaughlin

Running Back · Youngstown State

College football's all-time leading rusher, now carving out a role as a change-of-pace back in Denver.

Jaleel McLaughlin arrived in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with one of the most decorated small-school resumes in college football history. Four seasons into his Broncos career, he remains a shifty, dependable option in Denver's backfield even as the starting job has gone to others.

★ NCAA all-time leading rusher (all divisions), 8,166 career yards

★ 3,418 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns at Youngstown State

★ 1,093 career rushing yards across four seasons with Denver

Path to the league

McLaughlin starred at Youngstown State, rushing for 3,418 yards and 30 touchdowns for the Penguins, and finished his NCAA career as the all-time leading rusher across all divisions with 8,166 yards and 79 touchdowns. He went undrafted in 2023 and signed with Denver as a free agent.

Career highlights

McLaughlin has appeared in 41 regular-season games for the Broncos, rushing for 1,093 yards and scoring seven total touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver and returner. His combination of vision and burst has made him a consistent complementary piece in Denver's backfield rotation.

2025 season recap

McLaughlin didn't make his 2025 season debut until Week 6 and was active for only eight games, finishing with a career-low 37 carries for 187 yards and one touchdown to go with four catches for 27 yards. His workload picked up after J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury, though rookie RJ Harvey ultimately took over as Denver's lead back.