Malachi Thomas is a Pass-Catching Back for Purdue. Malachi's 2025 season ranks in the 0th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 62 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
What projects, and what doesn't · RBs · held out 2019-2025
How well one season predicts the next, measured on seasons the model never trained on. 1.00 would be perfectly predictable; 0.00 means last year told us nothing.
- Usage share (volume)0.52Beats guessing the RB average by 18%. n=4,219 RB seasons
- EPA per play (efficiency)0.10Not projectable — we do not forecast this. n=3,575 RB seasons
- Total EPA (value)0.41Beats guessing the RB average by 9%. n=3,575 RB seasons
Across all positions, usage carries year to year at 0.47 and efficiency at 0.07. So Malachi Thomas's projection is a projection of opportunity — how much of the offense he runs through. How well he converts it is something this model does not claim to know a year in advance, and the number above is why.
2025 Production
Performance Analysis · 2025 · vs RB peers
- Efficiency0
- Volume27
- Explosiveness32
- Consistency0
- Receiving74
Third-down weapon out of the backfield. Routes, hands, and separation in coverage define this role as much as rushing.
- ▸Below-average efficiency vs RB peers — value comes through volume, not per-play impact.
- ▸Limited usage share suggests a rotational or specialist role.
- ▸High game-to-game variance — boom-or-bust profile.
- ▸Strong second-half surge — EPA/play improved 0.14 from the first to second half of the season.
- ▸Peak game: 1.27 EPA/play in Wk 6 vs Illinois (SP+ 13).
NIL Market Tier· 2025
On3 valuation ↗Meaningful starter. Local collective + position-group deals.
Tier is a model estimate based on position, school brand, performance rank, and usage — not a reported deal. NIL deals are private. For a real market valuation, see On3's NIL profile, which factors in social following and actual deal tracking.
Game Log · box score + EPA, week by week
Usage & Situational · Pro
- Standard downs
- 0.08
- Passing downs
- 0.18
- Pass / Rush EPA
- 0.56 / -0.02
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).