Running back, Villanova, 2022–⁠25

Eli Smith

Number
No. 2
Height
6′0″
Weight
230 lb
Class (2025)
Senior
Hometown
Houston, TX

Eli Smith played running back at Villanova (2022–⁠25).

Rushing

Rushing yards, season by season, with his team’s record
SeasonTeamCarYdsAvgTDLong
2022Villanova271274.7018
2024Villanova6213.509
2025Villanova13765.8115
Career462244.9118

Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.

On the roster

SeasonTeamNo.PosClassHtWt
2022Villanova2RBFr.
2024Villanova2RBJr.
2025Villanova2RBSr.6′0″230

As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.

Per play

SeasonTeamPlaysEPA/playPctileMedianTotalUsage
2022Villanova (FCS)290.05––1.57%
2024Villanova (FCS)6-0.16––-1.0–
2025Villanova (FCS)130.32––4.1–

Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.

Game by game

2025 Villanova 4 games, 76 rushing yards, 1 TD
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Oct 18vs.HamptonW 56–⁠14533115––
Nov 8atTowsonW 28–⁠10632011––
Nov 22vs.Sacred HeartW 34–⁠101707––
Nov 29vs.HarvardW 52–⁠71404––
2024 Villanova 2 games, 21 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 21atMarylandL 20–⁠381404––
Nov 9vs.North Carolina A&TW 31–⁠351709––
2022 Villanova 7 games, 127 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 2vs.LehighW 45–⁠172001––
Sep 17atArmyL 10–⁠4931207––
Oct 1atMaineW 45–⁠2072508––
Oct 15atRichmondL 10–⁠201202––
Oct 22vs.UAlbanyW 31–⁠29214013––
Nov 5atTowsonL 3–⁠27526010––
Nov 12atWilliam & MaryL 12–⁠4574801812

Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.

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