[Goose]

Sanders was overrated. Offensive line support was not an issue as few backs in America had better blocking Sanders’ years in college. A bigger issue for Sanders was being over-recruited by McCaffrey and, at the end, Love. But nothing Sanders did at Stanford or Oklahoma State suggested a top 100 overall player. 

It would have been interesting to see what Smith could have done in a better era/supporting cast for Stanford. His college story is still being written and I’ll want to see what he does at Texas A&M before proclaiming too much. But my sense is two other things held him back too. First, he had significant availability issues. If you can’t stay healthy you can’t be a feature back and if you can’t be a feature back it’s hard to live up to top 100 billing. Second, I never felt he was a feature back. From the moment we recruited him I felt he was what used to be called a third down back. As a hybrid RB/WR change of pace and/or versatility option I thought he was an attractive prospect. The comparison for me was always Connor Wedington and, if EJ Smith had been born EJ Smyth I bet his recruiting rankings - and maybe even his position usage - would have mirrored Wedington’s. All that said, Smith played in a uniquely bleak era for Stanford football and we really do need to see what he does with the Aggies before we close the book on him.

IMO a great answer. As I recall, when he was initially recruited the theory was that he was a 'tweener and wouldn't be a featured back. As you point out, the aura of his pedigree may have pushed him and the coaches in the wrong direction.

[Goose]

Sanders was overrated. Offensive line support was not an issue as few backs in America had better blocking Sanders’ years in college. A bigger issue for Sanders was being over-recruited by McCaffrey and, at the end, Love. But nothing Sanders did at Stanford or Oklahoma State suggested a top 100 overall player. 

It would have been interesting to see what Smith could have done in a better era/supporting cast for Stanford. His college story is still being written and I’ll want to see what he does at Texas A&M before proclaiming too much. But my sense is two other things held him back too. First, he had significant availability issues. If you can’t stay healthy you can’t be a feature back and if you can’t be a feature back it’s hard to live up to top 100 billing. Second, I never felt he was a feature back. From the moment we recruited him I felt he was what used to be called a third down back. As a hybrid RB/WR change of pace and/or versatility option I thought he was an attractive prospect. The comparison for me was always Connor Wedington and, if EJ Smith had been born EJ Smyth I bet his recruiting rankings - and maybe even his position usage - would have mirrored Wedington’s. All that said, Smith played in a uniquely bleak era for Stanford football and we really do need to see what he does with the Aggies before we close the book on him.

IMO a great answer. As I recall, when he was initially recruited the theory was that he was a 'tweener and wouldn't be a featured back. As you point out, the aura of his pedigree may have pushed him and the coaches in the wrong direction.