WATCH: Son of Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith breaks off 87-yard TD run for Stanford

For a generation of fans, watching No. 22 take a seemingly futile up-the-gut run, bounce it to the outside, and suddenly streak down the field on a long touchdown score became a commonplace sight that helped define the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s.

History is repeating itself. Only now it’s happening in Palo Alto, California.

E.J. Smith, the 20-year-old son of Cowboys legend and NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, is beginning his junior year at Stanford. After seeing almost no playing time as a freshman and only sparse backup duty as a sophomore, Smith is finally the starting ball carrier this fall in the Cardinal backfield.

And on the team’s very first offensive play of the 2022 season, Smith bore a striking resemblance to his Hall of Fame father.

Right down to the single raised finger as he crossed the goal line, that 87-yard scoring run is pure Emmitt Smith.

E.J. (Emmitt James IV)- who was born in Dallas and attended the local Jesuit College Prep for high school- finished Stanford’s 41-10 win over Colgate on Saturday with 11 carries, 118 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. He added five receptions for 37 yards, and even logged a 13-yard kick return.

The 6-foot, 210-pounder was named a breakout candidate for this college football season by Pro Football Focus and is on the Doak Walker Award watchlist. Stanford head coach David Shaw has called Smith “the total package” and predicted, “Over the next two years, he’ll be one of the best backs in America.”

Sounds a lot like Dear Old Dad.

He’s off to quite a start so far.

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Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire