Stanford hopped aboard the Pedigree Train once again for their newest football recruit.
Running back E.J. Smith, son of NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, committed to Stanford on Wednesday _ the first day of the early signing period.
E.J. Smith was the 96th-ranked high school football recruit in the ESPN 300. He picked Stanford over Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Florida, his father's alma mater, ESPN reported.
"They just love my versatility," the 5-11, 195-pound Smith told ESPN, "and the way they use their running backs is something I focused on, and also the education played a major part in it, too. It's a great feeling because people only know the athletic part of me, but they don't know how much time I put in on the education side of it as well."
Emmitt Smith played 15 NFL seasons, 13 for the Dallas Cowboys with whom he won three Super Bowls. He is the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards, and with 164 rushing touchdowns.
E.J. Smith's signing maybe an eye-popper, but it is nothing new for Stanford to set its sights on recruits whose fathers played at the highest level.
_ Quarterback Andrew Luck signed in 2009. His father Oliver Luck played quarterback for four NFL seasons. Andrew Luck holds Stanford's career record for touchdown passes, 82.
_ Ed Reynolds, a defensive back, committed to Stanford in 2010. An all-Pac-12 selection in 2012 when he intercepted six passes, he played three seasons on The Farm. His father, also named Ed Reynolds, was a linebacker with the Patriots and the Giants.
_ Receiver/safety Kodi Whitfield committed to Stanford in 2012 and played four seasons for the Cardinal. His father Bob Whitfield, an offensive tackle, also played four years at Stanford. The Atlanta Falcons made him a first-round draft pick and he played in Atlanta in 12 of his 15 NFL seasons.
_ Defensive back Alex Carter came to Stanford in 2012 and played three seasons. His father Tom Carter, a cornerback, played in the NFL for 10 seasons for three teams.
_ Linebacker Noor Davis signed with Stanford in 2013 and played four seasons with the Cardinal. His dad Chris Davis played linebacker for the Giants in 1987.
_ Running back Barry Sanders Jr. signed in 2013, and played four years for the Cardinal rushing for 765 yards and seven touchdowns. Barry Sanders the elder is an NFL Hall of Famer. He is fourth on the NFL's career rushing list with 15,269 yards.
_ Kevin Reihner, a center, played two games for Stanford in the 2014 season. His father George Reihner, a guard, spent four seasons with the Houston Oilers in the late '70s and early '80s.
_ Running back Christian McCaffrey signed in 2014. His father Ed McCaffrey, a wide receiver, played 13 NFL seasons, nine with Denver. He won three Super Bowls, including one with the 49ers after the 1994 season. Christian McCaffrey set the school's single season rushing record with 2,019 yards in 2015.
_ Andrus Peat, an offensive lineman, played for Stanford 2013-14. His father Todd Peat, also an offensive lineman, played six seasons, including two with the Los Angeles Raiders.
_ And Joshua Garnett, an offensive lineman, played in two games for Stanford in 2014-15. His dad Scott Garnett, a nose tackle, played for four teams, including the 49ers, during the mid-'80s.
_ Jake Lynch, son of Hall of Fame candidate and 49ers general manager John Lynch, just earned the Cardinal's Greg Piers Award as the team's most outstanding defensive scout team player. Perhaps that'll lead the sophomore to some on-field playing time for Stanford in 2020, following in the footsteps of John, who wore Cardinal red from 1989-1992 before starring for the Buccaneers.
