EJ Smith RB Texas A&M | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
EJ Smith RB Texas A&M
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/20/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.70 seconds (11%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |
| Last Updated: 09/20/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.70 seconds (11%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 57.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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59% |
| Break Tackles: |
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51% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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59% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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42% |
| Run Blocking: |
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45% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#533
Position rank:
#54
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 695 | ||
ESPN RATING: 85/100
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247 RATING: 95/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spencer Brown - UAB |
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73% |
| Shakif Seymour - Toledo |
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67% |
| Greg Bell - San Diego State |
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65% |
Draft Profile: Bio
EJ Smith, running back from Texas A&M, enters the NFL Draft after a journey through college football. The son of Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, EJ spent four seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M for his final year of eligibility. At Stanford, Smith appeared in 24 games over four seasons, totaling 557 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 109 carries (5.1 YPC average). He added 59 receptions for 386 yards and a score in the passing game.Smith's most productive season came in 2023 at Texas A&M, where he set career-highs with 53 carries for 218 rushing yards and 33 receptions for 242 receiving yards in 12 games. His junior year at Stanford in 2022 showed promise, as he rushed for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns on 30 carries in just two games before suffering a season-ending injury. As a sophomore in 2021, Smith saw limited action behind other backs, rushing 26 times for 133 yards (5.1 YPC).
Coming out of Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, Smith was a highly-touted 4-star recruit. He earned 2019 District 9-6A Offensive Player of the Year honors and was selected to participate in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Bowl. Smith showed his versatility early, being named the 2017 District 9-6A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman before earning second-team all-district recognition as a junior.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- NFL bloodline as the son of Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith
- Dual-threat capability out of the backfield, showcasing effectiveness in both rushing and receiving roles
- Demonstrates patience and vision as a runner, allowing blocks to develop before hitting the hole with decisiveness
- Possesses adequate size and frame to potentially withstand the rigors of an NFL backfield rotation
- Natural hands catcher with crisp route-running skills, presenting a legitimate option in the passing game
- Exhibits a deep understanding of offensive concepts, likely influenced by his exposure to high-level football from an early age
- Displays shiftiness in the open field, with the ability to make would-be tacklers miss in space
- Shows productivity when healthy, consistently averaging over 5 yards per carry during his collegiate career
- Maintains good contact balance, often staying upright through initial hits and fighting for extra yardage
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks the breakaway speed desired for an NFL running back, potentially limiting his big-play ability at the next level
- Injury history raises durability concerns, including a significant setback that cut short a promising junior campaign
- Limited experience as a bell-cow back, never shouldering a full season's workload at the collegiate level
- Pass protection technique needs significant refinement to be trusted in third-down situations at the pro level
- Collegiate production has been inconsistent, failing to string together dominant performances over an extended period
Scouting Report: Summary
Smith's skill set suggests potential as a rotational back in an NFL committee approach. His soft hands and route-running acumen project well to third-down situations, while his vision and one-cut ability could be assets in a zone-blocking scheme. However, athleticism concerns and limited collegiate production may cap his ceiling as an every-down contributor.NFL teams will need to weigh Smith's flashes of potential against his overall body of work. His ability to contribute in multiple facets of the offense could make him an intriguing developmental prospect for a creative offensive coordinator. Smith's best fit may be in a system that heavily utilizes running backs in the passing game and employs a diverse rushing attack.
Despite his pedigree and glimpses of ability, Smith faces an uphill battle to secure a roster spot. His draft stock will likely have him competing for a late-round selection or priority free agent consideration.
Written By:
Bill Miller (SEC)
How other scouting services rate EJ Smith (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
649.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
62.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.