Ulysses Bentley IV is a Featured Back for SMU. Ulysses's 2020 season ranks in the 10th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 184 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 |
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | 2019 | 213 | 0.470 | 4.7 | 100.1 |
| 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 | @Texas State | W31-24 | -13.4 | 11 | 49 | 4.5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.10 |
| 3 | @North Texas | W65-35 | -8.0 | 19 | 227 | 11.9 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 0.85 |
| 4 | vsStephen F. Austin | W50-7 | — | 5 |
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 12 · Rush Yds 36 · Avg 3.0 · Rush TD 0
| 89 |
| 17.8 |
| 2 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1.48 |
| 5 | vsMemphis | W30-27 | 5.7 | 13 | 32 | 2.5 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0 | -0.07 |
| 7 | @Tulane | W37-34 | 4.2 | 25 | 94 | 3.8 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 0 | -0.01 |
| 8 | vsCincinnati | L13-42 | 18.6 | 16 | 40 | 2.5 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0 | -0.20 |
| 9 | vsNavy | W51-37 | -9.3 | 25 | 149 | 6.0 | 2 | 4 | 68 | 0 | 0.47 |
| 10 | @Temple | W47-23 | -10.0 | 17 | 79 | 4.6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.13 |
| 11 | @Tulsa | L24-28 | 5.6 | 26 | 103 | 4.0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.01 |
| 13 | @East Carolina | L38-52 | -11.0 | 12 | 36 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 | 41 | 1 | -0.05 |
