Key Stats:
Jesuit Dallas|Dallas, TX
Running Back|6'0"|194 pounds
Rivals Rank: Four stars|#3 Athlete
Key Offers:
Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, USC
Profile:
It will be difficult to watch EJ Smith without making comparisons to someone. The most obvious comparison will be to his father, Emmitt, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, and once EJ arrives on campus this summer, observers will likely mention a few Stanford players of recent vintage as they describe EJ's transition to the college game. His Hall of Fame legacy will bring to mind Barry J. Sanders, whose father has a spot alongside EJ's father on the Mt. Rushmore of NFL running backs (I'll put Jim Brown and Walter Payton up there with them, and apologize to Gale Sayers), and his skill set as a pass-catching running back will remind some of current Cardinal Connor Wedington and current legend Christian McCaffrey.
The truth, though, is that EJ Smith is his own man. The first thing you notice when you look at the highlight video from his senior season is that he wears his father's number 22, but that's really the only similarity between the two players. While Emmitt was a power back with enough of a wiggle in his stride to dominate the NFL for a decade, EJ is a flashier runner and a much more versatile player. The major recruiting services view Smith either as an athlete or an all-purpose back, similar to Wedington. (Some will remember that Wedington arrived at Stanford as a running back before his transition to wide receiver.)
Smith's video shows a player with the raw receiving talent -- good hands and a nose for the ball -- that will allow him to be a receiving threat out of the backfield. Should the coaching staff choose to push him in that direction, and I'm almost certain they will, some time spent on route-running will make him an even more dangerous weapon. In fact, he's shown this potential this week while working out in preparation for the Under Armour All-America game, impressing scouts not only in his standard role as a running back, but also as a slot receiver.
Given the recent changes to the redshirt rule, I think we can assume that we'll see Smith on the field this fall. We can expect a work load similar to what we saw with Austin Jones, Stanford's top running back recruit in the 2019 class. Jones had at least one carry in each game, and with the screen pass getting added emphasis in the offense, he caught 14 passes. I won't be surprised if Smith's numbers exceed those, particularly in the passing game.
Smith might have gotten attention because of the name and number on his back, but it won't be long before he begins to forge a legacy of his own. It'll be fun to watch.
