Mitch Leigber earned Stanford’s scout team defensive player of the week honors three weeks ago. Now the sophomore safety is expected to get the bulk of the carries in one of the most hostile environments in the Pac-12 when the Cardinal play at No. 13 Utah Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN).
Leigber is the only running back listed on the depth chart for Stanford (3-6, 1-6 Pac-12) against the Utes (7-2, 5-1).
Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat transferred in the offseason, E.J. Smith and Casey Filkins suffered season-ending injuries, and freshman Arlen Harris left the team last month. The team’s only remaining scholarship running back, Brendon Barrow, and walk-on Caleb Robinson also got banged up recently, leading coach David Shaw to ask Leigber if he wanted to switch positions.
“When I got that call I took it as a challenge and an opportunity to help the team,” Leigber said. “I wouldn’t have expected it if you told me this would happen at the beginning of the season, but it’s been exciting and it’s been fun just being out there with the guys.”
Leigber played both running back and safety as a sophomore and junior at Laguna Hills High School, recording 1,579 rushing yards, 824 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns on offense, and 186 tackles and five interceptions on defense (his senior season was postponed because of COVID-19).
He enjoyed playing on both sides of the ball but was recruited as a safety. He appeared in two games as a freshman and was primarily on the scout team this season when he was approached by Shaw about moving to offense leading up to the Oct. 29 game at UCLA.
“He didn’t really force it on me, just said it was an option,” Leigber said. “It was something I saw as an opportunity for me, so I was excited to get in that position and help out the team in any way I can.”
With Barrow available but limited due to injury last week against Washington State, Leigber started and had 11 carries for 23 yards and three catches for 32 yards.
“He’s got a great passion for the game, and he’s really smart, so we’re excited about the transformation that he’s made,” Shaw said. “Still believe at some point in time he’s going to be a starting safety for us, but right now he’s doing a heckuva job at running back and he’s going to be better this week than he was last week.”
As expected, Leigber had an up-and-down day in the blowout loss to the Cougars, losing a fumble but also gaining 23 yards on a nice over-the-shoulder catch. He also held up well in pass protection.
“For a guy who’s playing safety to be able to go through his reads and protection, and then get fitted up on a linebacker inside or a defensive back outside, it’s impressive,” Shaw said.
Leigber said the advice he’s received from teammates and coaches centered around having fun and not putting too much pressure on himself or getting too upset over little mistakes.
The lack of a true running back is a far cry from when Stanford fielded Heisman finalists Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love in the backfield, and one of the reasons the Cardinal is a 24-point underdog on Saturday.
Stanford’s other running options include freshman option QB Ashton Daniels, who has 17 rushes, and sophomore fullback Shield Taylor, who hasn’t attempted a run yet in college.
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