ASU Football: 3-star Trelon Smith signs with Sun Devils

Newest Arizona State Sun Devils signee Trelon Smith is soon to be the shortest (5-foot-7), lightest (181 pounds), and one of the youngest of a cluster of Arizona State running backs.

With the addition of Smith and four-star Eno Benjamin, the Sun Devils now have a roster loaded with nine running backs.

What separates Smith from the pack?

First, take a look:

The quick and explosive Houston native averaged 168.5 rushing yards per game at Cypress Ridge High School, ending his senior season with 2,191 yards on the ground and 29 rushing touchdowns. In the air, he received 327 yards on 22 catches racking in four TD’s.

The most obvious feature that stands out from Smith among others is his size. A 5-foot-7 NCAA Division I football RB needs to be fast, lightning fast.

His 40-yard-dash is a solid 4.41.

To put things into perspective, Arizona State’s leading yard-getter on the ground last season, Demario Richard, is the smaller and more versatile back between him and senior Kalen Ballage. Being 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, Richard is the shortest player to touch the ball on offense last season.

In 2014, when Richard was a signee at 5-foot-9, 197 pounds, he ran a 4.65. Say Trelon grows a few inches and weighs 30 or so pounds heavier adding .15 seconds on his 40-time, he’d still be a faster back than Richard.

The other senior running back that’ll be onto the professional ranks by the time Smith likely plays is Ballage. As a senior at Falcon High School in Peyon, CO, Ballage was ran a crazy fast 4.37 forty-yard-dash being 6-foot-2, 217.

And yet, he was still just a three-star with a 79 grade form ESPN. Well, quite similarly is Smith who’s a 3-star as well with a 78 grade.

Ballage is now rated 7th of all Class of 2018 RB’s, and don’t forget his 14 touchdown season. They’re two completely different players, with different styles, and size, but if Ballage as a 3-star has the potential to get that good, Smith can as well.