PHILADELPHIA -- In Darren Sproles' absence from the Eagles' voluntary OTAs this spring, rookie Wendell Smallwood took up the veterans carries and made the most of them during the 10 voluntary practices at the NovaCare Complex.

The Eagles' fifth-round draft choice out of West Virginia showed great vision, burst through the running lane and some impressive jukes, jives and cutbacks during the practice sessions that were open to the media this spring.

Head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that he expects Sproles to report Monday when mandatory minicamp begins, but struggled to contain his excitement over what he's seen from Smallwood thus far.

"Really been excited about [Kenjon Barner] and Wendell is picking it up well and having a good spring," Pederson said prior to Friday's final OTA practice. "I like the way he runs routes out of the backfield. He's got great hands and I think it's something that is just a gift that he has and something that we actually saw when we were scouting him this offseason."

Likewise, teammates couldn't help but rave about Smallwood and what he was able to do with a larger than expected workload.

"He's smart," fellow running back and the incumbent starter at the position Ryan Mathews said. "He's real smart. I like his running style. He's a one-cut kind of guy like me. He's fast and quick. He's going to be something else, I think. He's good. He's real good. I'm going to be excited to watch him grow and become a great player."

Standing just 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, Smallwood seems to play bigger than his frame, especially in the open field. In three seasons at West Virginia, Smallwood averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns.

In addition to his contributions in the ground-game, Smallwood also averaged 9.1 yards per catch and caught 68 passes in his collegiate career. He says that his ability out of the backfield is one of his biggest strengths.

"Catching out of the backfield," Smallwood said was what he believed is his strong-suit. "I think I've been running the ball great and hitting holes how I should just trying to play fast, but I think catching the ball out of the backfield is the thing I've been doing best.

"Just getting the ball out of the backfield and getting open and stuff like that. I think I need to work on my route-running and stuff like that, but I think my catching separates me from other guys."

Smallwood says that he's excited to meet Sproles and looks up to him as a potential mentor as he looks ahead to his rookie season. However, it was teammate Kenjon Barner who echoed Mathews' sentiments and thinks that the Eagles found a diamond in the rough with the fifth-round pick in April's NFL Draft.

"I think he's going to be really good," Barner said. "I think he's going to be really, really good. He shows a lot. He shows he has an ability to make cuts and get through the hole. I think that gives him a chance to be good."

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.