TCU hires new running backs coach from SEC school
Sonny Dykes has found his replacement for running backs coach Anthony Jones and he happens to be a familiar name for offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
Dykes and TCU hired Jimmy Smith from Arkansas to take over for Jones, who accepted a job to USC early last week. Smith coached with Briles at Arkansas. The two coached together for three seasons and helped develop a potent rushing attack in the SEC.
In 2021 Arkansas led the Power Five in rushing with 228 rushing yards per game, good for No. 2 nationally. 2022 was the real breakout year for the group as Raheim Sanders established himself as one of the best running backs in the country.
Sanders was a first team All-SEC running back after rushing for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns while setting numerous program records that hadn’t been achieved since Darren McFadden’s time in the early 2000s.
Smith was just named associate head coach for the Razorbacks before accepting the job at TCU. Prior to Arkansas, Smith spent a season at Georgia State where he helped the Panthers upset Tennessee.
Prior to that Smith was a legendary high school in the Atlanta area. From 2015-18 Smith led Cedar Grove to four state championship games with two titles to show for it, which were also the first in program history.
Prior to his coaching career, Smith was a quarterback at Tennessee State and helped TSU win two Ohio Valley Conference championships in 1998 and 1999.
Replacing Jones will be tough as he helped develop two NFL running backs in Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado plus a potential third one with Emani Bailey in the upcoming draft.
However, the cupboard won’t be bare for Smith as TCU has a number of young options in the backfield like Cam Cook, Nate Palmer and Jeremy Payne.
TCU begins spring practice on March 23.
