Stanford's running back room in much better shape in 2023

The running back situation for Stanford in 2022 was not ideal

Having E.J. Smith leading the way last season there was an expectation ahead of the 2022 season that Stanford's offense would have a special dynamic.

Smith obviously is capable of making big plays every time he touches the ball which we saw on his first carry of the season against Colgate when he took it over 80 yards for the score. He also added a pass catching dynamic to the offense that made him even more of a threat, but unfortunately for the Cardinal he went down with an undisclosed injury in their Week 2 loss against USC. 

Not only did Stanford lose the game, but they lost their most effective weapon on offense. In just two games, Smith recorded 206-yards rushing and was averaging 6.9 yards per carry while rushing in three scores. Not to mention, he also had eight catches for 63 yards and a score. While they had some reserves like Casey Filkins able to step in, what happened in the following weeks was bizarre. 

The Cardinal would essentially go on to lose just about every scholarship running back to injury along the way, and the room was stretched so thin that they ended up starting reserve safety Mitch Leigber at running back. They also used a lot of third string quarterback Ashton Daniels to help the rushing attack. Needless to say that it was not smooth sailing by any means.

However, Troy Taylor and the Cardinal were able to add some running backs both from the recruiting ranks and the transfer portal that should add much more depth than what they had a year ago, and even in spring ball as injuries still limited them to only having 5-foot-7 walk-on Kenaj Washington at times. While the room isn't nearly as deep as other programs in the Pac-12 it's much better than it was last season. 

Let's take a look at the much improved running back room that Stanford will be fielding in 2023.

Caleb Hampton (Freshman)

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A later addition to Stanford's 2023 recruiting class, the dual-sport athlete who also plays baseball adds some depth to the running back room. Stanford was just one of his two reported scholarship offers for football, as he was much more sought after for his baseball ability. He would need to have quite the fall camp to work his way up the depth chart.

Brendon Barrow (Junior)

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After playing in just two games the year prior, Barrow was another running back that was needed to take some carries. He played in eight games recording 80 yards on 19 carries, while adding four catches for 24 yards. While he isn't likely to have a prominent role in 2023, having another back with some game experience is helpful. 

Ryan Butler (Sophomore)

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One of Taylor's transfer portal additions, Princeton transfer Ryan Butler, was a dominant force in the Ivy League. He set the freshman rushing touchdowns record with 11, and ran for 501 yards while adding 12 catches for 87 yards. When speaking with Taylor he praised the experience and depth that Butler adds to this group. 

Sedrick Irvin Jr. (Freshman)

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Stanford was able to win out over programs like Alabama and Notre Dame for the Miami native, and Taylor and company were able to retain him once he took over. If there was one newcomer that could be expected to make an impact in the backfield, the speedy freshman who also proved he can catch the ball and make plays in the passing game would be the one to do so. 

Casey Filkins (Senior)

Thrust into the starting role this past season before he got hurt, Casey Filkins provides a bruising running back that is more than willing to run into some contact. While the offense was never the same after Smith went down, Filkins did get some much needed touches that adds to experience to the room. Prior to last season he had just 11 career carries, but received 122 this past season which saw him run for 478 yards and four touchdowns on 3.9 yards per carry. While he likely won't receive that many carries in 2023, he is a nice compliment to Smith and can be used in short yardage situations. 

E.J. Smith (Senior)

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Unfortunately for Smith he has been plagued by injury the past couple years, but when he's healthy he shows nothing but game changing flashes. If he is able to stay healthy, he should explode in Troy Taylor's offense that heavily relies on the running backs in all facets of the game. He also can help take the pressure off what is a very inexperienced quarterback room.