Running backs coach Malcolm Agnew discusses Stanford football’s young backfield

Coming off a 2023 season where no running back accumulated more than 218 yards on the ground, Stanford’s running back room has been perhaps the most improved unit on the team in 2024 so far, with significant contributions from multiple freshmen.

Freshmen running backs Micah Ford and Chris Davis, alongside sophomore Sedrick Irvin, have quickly adjusted to the collegiate level, setting the pace for the running game this season.

Ford has led the unit, leading the team with 302 rushing yards on 48 carries while also adding two touchdowns. Ford is the Cardinal’s most physical runner, and his physicality caught Running Backs Coach Malcolm Agnew’s attention as a recruit out of high school.

“Micah consistently ran through contact on his game tape. He always fell forward, which is something we look for in our backs,” Agnew told The Daily.

Davis, while not as statistically dominant, has contributed 174 yards on 39 carries so far this season, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. The Mississippi native was a standout athlete in high school playing both running back and cornerback.

“CD (Chris Davis) really explodes on tape for a guy who wasn’t the biggest coming out of high school. [Similar to Ford], he always ran through contact and fell forward. He was a pretty good corner in high school too, and I like guys that play both ways,” Agnew said.

Irvin, who has taken on a leadership role in the backfield, has added 191 yards on 42 carries for the Cardinal. He’s also proven to be a key pass protector and blocker. Despite suffering an injury in last week’s game, Agnew praised Irvin’s consistency.

“He does a good job of making the first guy miss and has done a lot of the dirty work for us. He’s done a lot of blocking. He hasn’t complained,” Agnew said. “He’s a great team leader.”

Agnew did not reveal if Irvin would play in this weekend’s game against Notre Dame.

“His timeline is his timeline,” Agnew said. “We’ll see [if he plays].”

Cole Tabb, another freshman, has seen limited action but Agnew is excited about his speed and ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

The improvement in Stanford’s ground game is evident in the team’s rushing stats. So far this season, the team has racked up 785 total rushing yards as a group. Their 157 yards per game average puts them on pace to best last season’s total of 1,423 total yards.

“Everyone has gotten better and more experienced,” he said. “The room took it upon themselves not to be looked down upon as a unit that wasn’t carrying their weight.”

A significant focus for Stanford’s young backs has been pass protection, a crucial part of their role in the offense.

“It’s not just about carrying the ball,” Agnew said. “Most people would say your gift back to the team is on special teams and what you do without the ball. That’s something we emphasized, and it’s improved greatly.”

As the season progresses, Ford, Davis, Irvin and eventually Tabb, will continue to develop in their roles, helping Stanford’s offense stay balanced. With their current production and room for growth, the Cardinal’s running game appears in a much stronger position than in recent years.

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