Sophomore runningback Zach Line has proven himself a consistent standout this season. 

SMU’s No. 1 runningback is “Lining” up plays left and right. Currently Line averages seven yards per carry. 

During the season opener in Lubbock, Line rushed 72 yards and scored a touchdown on 12 carries against the Red Raiders.

Just a week later, Line rushed 122 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns to lead SMU to a 28-7 victory over UAB.

On Sept. 19, Line led the team in rushing yards with a total of 82 on eight carries against Washington State for the win. 

“I feel like I’m doing my job, it’s nothing extraordinary,” Line said. “We are all really supportive of each other. If I didn’t have the line or the defense, I wouldn’t be able to perform.”

Last weekend, Line tallied up 139 rushing yards on 17 touches and a touchdown against TCU.

“I think we are a good team, with great fans,” Line said on the season. “We’ve made some mistakes along the way, but we learn from good teams. Everyone’s doing their job, we make good enough plays to win games.”

Line, a Michigan native, joined the Mustangs in January 2009 as a gray shirt. 

Originally recruited as a linebacker, Line switched to offense as runningback in the spring of 2009. 

As a freshman, Line started in six games and played in all 13. He scored a total of seven touchdowns on 49. Line scored two touchdowns against Navy that were the first at SMU by a freshman since 2005. 

Line finished the season with 189 rushing yards, 10 receptions for 68 yards.

This weekend the Mustangs will travel to Houston for a conference game against Rice. 

“It’s fun to go to somebody else’s house, steal what they want and take it back home,” Line said on the upcoming game.

Rice fell to Baylor last weekend and is currently 3-1 on the season. The Mustangs are currently 2-2.

“We are looking forward to setting our goal to win the Conference Championship this year,” Line said.

The Ponies will return home Oct. 9 to Gerald J. Ford Stadium to play Navy.