Classic Tailback - Emmitt Smith Florida Highlights

A compilation of some of Emmitt Smith's highlights at the University of Florida. Before he became the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith was the sole offensive threat on an otherwise lackluster Gators squad. During his time in Gainesville, Smith showcased his otherworldly vision and an uncanny ability to make the most out of every run.

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[j-real]

Emmitt was competitive, tough, relentless, strong, had great vision, stayed healthy (an underrated skillset), & had great stamina.

Emmit's was a complete back as he could catch & block very well out of the backfield.

He wasn't the fastest or flashiest back, but was very effective.

That's why people to this day don't know what made him so great & they just give credit to his offensive lines. It was the little things he did that he made great. And he did it over & over for years without getting hurt so he stayed available.

But Emmit would wear you down with those 3, 5, 6 yard gains & keep on coming. He could carry the ball 25+ times a game as well. This impacted the whole team as his teams constantly ate up time of possession and kept his defense off the field. These are the little non-flashy elements to Emmit's game that made him great!

You do that for 15+ years & you're something special.

[nicholasjoost]

Emmitt was so good at maintaining his speed at about 80% while he weaved through the first and second level of the defense. He rarely took a big hit because of his great vision and running style.

[MC-vhgo]

I watched about every carry of Emmitt's career. It is still hard for me to describe what it was that made him so good. Watching Emmitt run was mesmerizing. Most of the time he did not make dramatic cuts or or stop and go, like Barry for instance. He sort of bent and shaped his runs, glided, he often slowed to affect the angle of the defender which allowed his blockers to get a better angle on the defenders, he would even put his hand on the back of his FB. He was sooo savy, it was said that Emmitt could see what the defense did before they did it. But probably most important, he was unspeakably TOUGH and had the competitive drive of the Champion he is. Emmitt was my hero as a kid and he still is. #22.

[tomhaddy]

Emmitt had the best footwork of any running back I have ever seen...he always got that extra 2, 3, 4 yards after contact...his footwork was so good that later in life he easily danced his way to winner of Dancing with the Stars.

[gatorpika]

I was at the New Mexico game when he ran for over 300 and a few others. Dude was a great back.

[MJamesIII]

Nobody hit the hole like Emmitt. Great running backs make great offensive linemen.

[roysears]

People don't realize Emmitt was just as good in HS and Middle School. Emmitt was great

[rodneywashington]

Arguments from the haters because Emmitt played with the Cowboys??? "Oh Anyone can run behind that Dallas O-line!" Derrick Lassic couldn't!! 0-2 remember!!! Tommy Agee couldn't!! Nate Newton's words, "Emmit Smith made US better!" Emmitt "Move The Chains" Smith. Emmitt "First Down" Smith. Emmit "Touchdown" Smith. Where was that Cowboys O-LINE in Pop Warner, High School and College At?? It's like Michael Irvin said when he and Jimmy Johnson looked at Emmitt's films before he was drafted. Irvin said, "Well if he's not that GOOD, then how is he gettin ALL these yards!!?? The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of RBs is how and why. Greatest vision, Defensive running style for technique, and a WHOLE LOTTTA HEART!!

[chezmcmann]

Emmitt is the best back to ever come out of uf easily.

[redmustangredmustang]

He was great in high school, college, and NFL. You don't get into both the college and pro football hall of fames if you are just a regular running back. Emmitt did both and has 3 Super Bowl rings to show for it.

[johnvalderrama]

His NFL rushing record may never be broken

[panchosvilla]

This was an excellent compilation of Emmitt and gives us an opportunity to see examples of his development. Not necessarily flashy but relentless and one of the best runners in traffic I've ever seen. Thank you PC.

[johnpoulton]

I think because Emmitt got so much exposure with Dallas there is a bit of backlash against him. I hear a lot that he wasnt as good as Barry Sanders. Maybe he was or wasnt. Ioved watching them both !!! But I think because he wasnt as "flashy" as Barry, it is automatically assumed he wasnt as good. Emmitts vision and as Nicholas mentions, could keep that speed at 80% until the opening, plus the power to break tackles and makes cuts i think gets him undersold. Barry was AMAZING and Dallas definitly had the better teams of course. But Barry didnt run behind poor O-Lines. Lomas Brown< Mike Compton, Kevin Glover, Mike Utley, etc etc. those are pro bowl linemen. Emmitt played against D-1 talent in high school, agaisnt the Miami's and Bamas in college and of course with the Cowboys. thats A LOT of yards !! A LOT !! !it wasnt because he was lucky.

[Moonshack]

It’s sort of counterintuitive thinking that Emmitt might be one of the only classic rbs who could thrive in today’s game. Not blazing fast, not especially big…but a wizard at making people miss and maneuvering through traffic. Guys were flying by him after a missed tackle. He has that X factor of vision combined with total body awareness and anticipation. He would still be really good in the league. Young Emmitt of course

[epiclionsault]

I've never seen Emmitt's college reel until now! Great compilation!!

[ddizzle]

What a beautiful game. Look at the formations, the blocking. That's the game I fell in love with.

[steveacree]

I saw every home game he played in. At Fla Field. He had you on the edge of your seat almost every play. He would take hits from tacklers and use it as momentum to keep going forward. Nobody had vision and cuts like him moving full speed. His vison and and anticipation was Gretzky like.

[killakangz]

i love that piano melody... beautiful mane. btw...great highlights.😎

[alod]

Emmitt Smith and Shaun Alexander have become the most under appreciated runners of football history. Maybe the best vision and ability to run thru traffic of any backs.

[johngoldsmith]

I got covid and was stuck at home for a couple of weeks, so on YouTube I found Dallas Cowboys games and watched the '89-'94 seasons all in order to watch the team progress.

Most of the Cowboys O-line was intact. Stepnoski was there, Nate Newton, Kevin Gogan, Mark Tuinei. The offensive line didn't start looking good until Emmitt started hitting his stride, starting with the Redskins game week 4 1990. Emmitt had a QB understanding of defenses from a RB perspective. That was his edge. Wasn't the most physically gifted, but Contact balance and vision, that's what made him special.