Why is nobody talking about this former 4-star Jets UDFA running back?

Another day, another New York Jets Camp Countdown, this time featuring an intriguing undrafted rookie running back who has a chance to stick around with a strong showing this summer.

Today, we are talking about the (other) Kid from Akron, the NIL Nomad, the Toledo Tank Engine, the MAC Truck himself, it's undrafted rookie running back Chip Trayanum.

Some might say Trayanum has taken the scenic route through college football over the last six years. Originally a four-star recruit, Trayanum spent two years at Arizona State before transferring to Kentucky, then Ohio State, and finally Toledo for his final year of eligibility in 2025.

The man played running back. He played linebacker. He had multiple hand surgeries. He earned first-team All-MAC honors this past year. Somewhere in there, he also managed to rush for over 1,000 yards as Toledo's leading rusher.

Now, the former four-star recruit out of Akron arrives in Florham Park as an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot in an already crowded Jets running back room. The odds may not exactly be in his favor, but there is enough intrigue here to make him worth watching this summer.

Where Chip Trayanum stands entering Jets training camp

Trayanum enters training camp facing an uphill battle to make the Jets’ 53-man roster. Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen, and Kene Nwangwu all feel relatively secure heading into camp, especially with Nwangwu’s kick return role effectively guaranteeing him a spot if healthy.

That likely leaves Trayanum competing for a practice squad opportunity rather than a true roster spot. The good news for him is that every NFL team needs emergency running back depth, and the Jets don't exactly have a ton of competition behind those top four names.

Wyoming undrafted rookie Sam Scott is the other running back on the roster, but Trayanum probably enters camp as the favorite for that developmental RB5 role given his pedigree, athletic profile, and production at Toledo last season.

Every year, somebody quietly earns a practice squad spot and hangs around longer than expected. Trayanum absolutely fits that mold and is someone fans should pay attention to this summer.

Revisiting Chip Trayanum’s winding college journey

Trayanum’s college career genuinely feels like a football version of the Oregon Trail. The former four-star recruit debuted at Arizona State back in 2020 and quickly flashed promise as a powerful, physical running back.

His best season with the Sun Devils came in 2021 when he rushed 78 times for 402 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Trayanum entered the transfer portal seeking a bigger opportunity, ultimately transferring to Ohio State.

But things got a bit complicated in Columbus. The Buckeyes bounced Trayanum between running back and linebacker before he eventually settled back into the offensive side of the ball full-time.

In 2023, he emerged as Ohio State’s second-leading rusher behind TreVeyon Henderson, finally beginning to resemble the player many thought he could become coming out of high school.

Wanting a larger opportunity again, Trayanum transferred once more ahead of the 2024 season, this time landing at Kentucky. Unfortunately, a hand injury suffered before the season ended up requiring two surgeries and limited him to just three games and 19 carries before another trip to the transfer portal followed.

Trayanum transferred to Toledo for his final season of eligibility in 2025 and delivered the best year of his career, rushing 182 times for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He earned first-team All-MAC honors, led the team in rushing, and eventually earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

It took six years and four schools, but Trayanum finally got the breakout season he had been chasing.

What would make 2026 a success for Chip Trayanum?

Trayanum is simply hoping to prove that he belongs at the NFL level this season. The athletic tools are certainly intriguing enough. He posted a 9.62 Relative Athletic Score, which ranked among the best marks for running backs in this year’s class.

He ran a 4.50 forty-yard dash, recorded a ridiculous 2.51 20-yard split that ranked in the 98th percentile, posted 27 bench reps, and added a 37-inch vertical. The guy is built like a compact bowling ball with legitimate burst.

At nearly 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds, Trayanum certainly looks the part of an NFL running back. The concerns mostly revolve around his vision, overall feel as a runner, and the reality that he is already 24 years old and turns 25 in January.

Older running back prospects generally do not generate much draft buzz, and that certainly played a role in him going undrafted. Still, there is enough talent here to stick around.

If Trayanum can show value on special teams, continue running physically, and flash enough in the preseason, earning a practice squad spot certainly feels very attainable. And once you get in the building, things can change quickly in the NFL, especially at the running back position.

He may not be a favorite to make the Jets’ initial 53-man roster, but he absolutely feels like somebody worth keeping an eye on this summer. The MAC Truck has arrived in Florham Park.

Previous editions of the Jets Camp Countdown series can be found below.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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