Stanford is turning to a familiar name and number to try to help turn around a running game that has gone from one of the best in the country to one of the worst over the past five years.
Emmitt James Smith IV, who goes by E.J., will be the starting running back when the Cardinal opens its season Saturday at home against Colgate (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
While Smith shares the same No. 22 uniform number as his Hall of Fame father, the junior is also forging his own path. For one, he chose Stanford over Florida — dad’s alma mater— and Texas A&M.
E.J. was drawn to The Farm after seeing what Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love accomplished with the Cardinal.
“Christian and Bryce are the main reasons I came here,” Smith said. “Being able to see how dynamic they were in this offense just helped me understand how they can use me once I got on campus.”
McCaffrey and Love both finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting when Smith, 20, was a teenager. But Stanford’s running game has been near the bottom of the FBS in each of the past three full seasons – 120th in 2018, 123rd in 2019, and 126th last year.
Smith rushed for 133 yards on 26 carries and had 72 yards on 16 catches last season as the third option in a running back room that featured Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat. But Jones (Southern Cal) and Peat (Missouri) both transferred in January, paving the way for Smith to jump into the starting rotation earlier than expected. Not that Smith was thinking about his playing time when he first heard the news about his teammates.
“I was more upset,” Smith said. “They’re my brothers, and seeing them gone hurt a little bit. They showed me everything I know about the offense, they were really there to guide me through this process. So just having them gone, I was upset, but now just thinking about it I’m excited. I just can’t wait to get going.”
The Dallas native said he’s focused on putting himself in “uncomfortable situations” over the summer, such as adding more weight to the bar during workouts.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life, so I’m prepared,” Smith said. “They put me there for a reason so I just have to show the world now why they put me there.”
Stanford has 10 players whose fathers played in the NFL, including top corner Kyu Blu Kelly, whose father Brian led Tampa Bay in interceptions during its Super Bowl-winning 2002 season, and starting right tackle Myles Hinton, whose father Chris was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
Smith said he’s taking advice from his father, who is still the NFL’s all-time leading rusher: control what you can control, stay humble, focus on the little things and take advantage of the opportunity.
“He’s excited for the position I’m in right now,” E.J. said. “He’s just been an angel on my shoulder, him and my mom and the rest of my family.”
Running backs coach Ron Gould, who has previously coached Marshawn Lynch and Jahvid Best at Cal, said that Smith has impressed him with his patience during runs, his consistency in pass protection and his improved route running.
“He’s just a complete back,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “We recruited him as the guy that does not have to leave the field for anything.”
Smith actually played some wide receiver in high school, showing off his versatility. He is also in the mix to return kickoffs for the Cardinal.
“We believe he’s going to have a breakout year,” Shaw said. “I think it helps to have the receiving corps and tight end group that we have that will draw some attention and allow him to have some nice looks to run the ball into. But regardless this guy can make people miss, he can break tackles, he’s got big-play capability, big-play speed, can catch the ball in the backfield, so I’m really excited about the season starting for him as the unquestioned lead back we have and think it’s gonna be a heck of a year for him.”
Despite the recent performances, there is hope that Stanford’s run game can get turned around this season – the entire offensive line returns from last year, quarterback Tanner McKee is a potential first-round talent, and targets like tight end Benjamin Yurosek should keep defenses from stacking the box.
“We all have dreams and aspirations to be the No. 1 offense in the country,” Smith said. “So that’s what we work towards every day.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com