B.J. Smith is a Featured Back for Troy. B.J.'s 2018 season ranks in the 10th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 224 plays — a developing rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2016 | 288 | 0.340 | 3.9 | 97.9 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
| Breece Hall | Iowa State | 2020 | 301 | 0.340 | 4.5 | 102.3 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsBoise State | L20-56 | 12.2 | 7 | 26 | 3.7 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 2 | vsFlorida A&M | W59-7 | — | 12 | 71 | 5.9 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 20 · Rush Yds 93 · Avg 4.7 · Rush TD 1
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
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| 0.24 |
| 3 | @Nebraska | W24-19 | 5.4 | 11 | 70 | 6.4 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.44 |
| 4 | @UL Monroe | W35-27 | -10.9 | 16 | 63 | 3.9 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0.08 |
| 5 | vsCoastal Carolina | W45-21 | -17.2 | 10 | 103 | 10.3 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.78 |
| 6 | vsGeorgia State | W37-20 | -20.4 | 17 | 140 | 8.2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0.55 |
| 7 | @Liberty | L16-22 | -19.7 | 20 | 111 | 5.6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.39 |
| 9 | @South Alabama | W38-17 | -17.7 | 22 | 170 | 7.7 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.40 |
| 10 | vsLouisiana | W26-16 | -6.9 | 22 | 103 | 4.7 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 0.33 |
| 11 | @Georgia Southern | W35-21 | -2.4 | 22 | 86 | 3.9 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.16 |
| 12 | vsTexas State | W12-7 | -16.4 | 24 | 94 | 3.9 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.15 |
| 13 | @App State | L10-21 | 11.9 | 15 | 53 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | -0.03 |
| 1 | vsBuffalo | W42-32 | -1.1 | 20 | 93 | 4.7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -0.13 |
