Though DeAndre Smith hasn’t stayed at one spot too long — his longest coaching stint was a four-year gig at Northern Illinois, his first job coaching running backs — he seemingly has had an impact at nearly every stop.

Smith, Purdue’s new running backs coach, has mentored seven running backs who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a season and also had a QB rush over 1,000 yards. The latter feat isn’t really too surprising, even if it was in Smith’s first college coaching job — Smith was an All-American as an option QB at Missouri State.

During those four years at NIU, Smith coached three players who were All-MAC backs, including Michael Turner, who was had 3,500 yards in two seasons under Smith.

At Purdue, Smith will have a stable of mostly young running backs. Leading returning rusher Markell Jones is only a sophomore, and junior D.J. Knox and redshirt freshmen Tario Fuller and Richie Worship are likely the next three on the depth chart.

Smith had a true freshman lead Syracuse in rushing last season, and he said he likes having younger backs.

“They’re still hungry enough where you can mold them and get them into situations and get them to understand how to work to give them a chance. I think it actually helps me that they’re younger as opposed to being older because a lot of times older players are kind of stuck in their ways,” Smith said on ‘Gold and Black LIVE’ Friday.

“I’ve actually coached some really good, talented kids and I know from what I’ve heard and watching film there’s a lot of talent here and I’m excited about that. I learned a long time ago you’re a pretty good coach if you have talent. These young men, they work at it, they’re conscientious and that’s going to help. I ask if they just listen and we both work together, we’ll be able to do some great things.”

Smith said he values cultivating relationships with players, and having good communication is placed at a premium. It matters because it helps Smith to be able to motivate guys.

When he was at Illinois coaching Mikel Leshoure, the relationship they’d built allowed Smith to feel comfortable challenging Leshoure before one of the Illini’s biggest games that season: With the coaching staff’s jobs hanging in the balance against Northwestern. Smith flat-out told Leshoure that people were counting on him and he had to play well. Leshoure responded, having a monster game of 350 yards in a victory.

But it was a great indicator that Smith isn’t afraid to be firm, honest and issue challenges.

“I’d like to think when you build trust with young men and you show them you really care about them, not just as a football player but as a person (it works),” Smith said. “It’s a two-way street. … But I’d like to think the trust I develop with my guys, we can have those kind of conversations and I can motivate them because, at the end of the day, I’m just trying to do what’s best for them.”

Smith hasn’t had too much interaction with Purdue’s backs just yet, having spent only four 6 a.m. workouts with the group and a handful of positional meetings. But his early impressions are solid.

He’s been sure to be clear on what he wants from them — and to say there will be consequences if they don’t deliver.

“They’ve got to be tough. They’ve got to be physical. They’ve got to be able to protect, and they’ve got to hold onto the football,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate. I’ve coached some really good tough, physical football players, and that’s the name of the game. Of course a lot of our guys have those attributes right now. So that shouldn’t be an issue, but that’s what I look for, regardless if you make a guy miss or can run through tackles, but you have to be tough to play this game and be a guy who will play for me.”

Smith also has preached accountability and dependability to his new backs, saying he thinks there’s a direct correlation between off-field actions and on-field play.

But all of Purdue’s backs will get a chance to prove they’re worthy of snaps.

Smith told the group there’s a “clean slate.” There will be a depth chart going into spring ball, but it won’t be set. And guys already can — and are — doing work to lay the foundation for snaps March 8.

“Right now they’re just kind of building their résumé, so to speak, with me on if I can depend on them on and off the field. They have time,” Smith said. “I’m just getting to know them. These (6 a.m.) morning workouts really help. Who’s competing? Who gives in? It’ll be an ongoing process. But right now, it’s totally up to (the players) on how things turn out.”

For Smith's full interview, check out his appearance on 'LIVE.'

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