Rodney Smith is a 2-year Featured Back for Minnesota. Rodney's 2016 season ranks in the 18th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 261 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 |
| Eno Benjamin | Arizona State | 2018 | 316 | 0.330 | 4.6 | 104.3 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
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 | vsOregon State | W30-23 | -4.6 | 25 | 125 | 5.0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.15 |
| 2 | vsIndiana State | W58-28 | — | 17 | 74 | 4.4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0.11 |
| 4 | vsColorado State | W31-24 | 0.8 | 17 |
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 17 · Rush Yds 74 · Avg 4.4 · Rush TD 1
| 99 |
| 5.8 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 15 |
| 0 |
| 0.38 |
| 5 | @Penn State | L26-29 | 19.0 | 23 | 104 | 4.5 | 0 | 4 | 39 | 0 | 0.11 |
| 6 | vsIowa | L7-14 | 10.3 | 11 | 44 | 4.0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -0.24 |
| 7 | @Maryland | W31-10 | -0.6 | 18 | 144 | 8.0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.61 |
| 8 | vsRutgers | W34-32 | -14.9 | 22 | 111 | 5.0 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 0.35 |
| 9 | @Illinois | W40-17 | -6.7 | 20 | 100 | 5.0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0.25 |
| 10 | vsPurdue | W44-31 | -11.0 | 24 | 153 | 6.4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.26 |
| 11 | @Nebraska | L17-24 | 10.3 | 17 | 53 | 3.1 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 | -0.13 |
| 12 | vsNorthwestern | W29-12 | 2.9 | 16 | 32 | 2.0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | -0.16 |
| 13 | @Wisconsin | L17-31 | 16.1 | 13 | 45 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 0 | -0.14 |
| 1 | vsWashington State | W17-12 | 6.2 | 17 | 74 | 4.4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.03 |
