Vincent Smith (American football)

Vincent Smith (born February 7, 1990) is a former collegiate American football running back and return specialist. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 2009 to 2012. He led Michigan's running backs in rushing yardage during the 2010 season.

Vincent Smith
Smith in September 2012
PositionRunning back, return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1990-02-07) February 7, 1990
Pahokee, Florida, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight176 lb (80 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolPahokee (Pahokee, Florida)

Early years

Smith grew up in Pahokee, Florida and played high school football at Pahokee High School. He totaled 4,677 yards and 58 touchdowns at Pahokee, including more than 2,000 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior.[1]

University of Michigan

2009 season

Smith accepted a football scholarship to attend the University of Michigan. As a freshman in 2009, Smith appeared in eight games for the Wolverines. He gained 166 yards on 17 carries against Delaware State on October 17, 2009. He had 276 rushing yards, 82 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2009.[2]

2010 season
Smith against Ohio State, 2009

As a sophomore in 2010, Smith led the Michigan running backs with 601 rushing yards. (Quarterback Denard Robinson led the team with 1,702 rushing yards.) Smith also had 130 receiving yards and scored 7 touchdowns.[3]

2011 season

As a junior in 2011, Smith ran for 118 yards against Eastern Michigan on September 17, the second 100-yard rushing game of his collegiate career.[4][5][6][7] After the Eastern Michigan game, head coach Brady Hoke named Smith as the Wolverines starting running back, adding that Smith had "earned that right."[8][9][10][11] Against Minnesota on October 1, 2011, Smith became the first football player in Michigan history to score rushing, passing and receiving touchdowns in the same game. He was the first Division I FBS player to accomplish the feat since 2009.[1][12][13][14][15][16] Smith's touchdown pass came on a 17-yard throw to sophomore receiver Drew Dileo.[17] During the 2011 season, Smith had 296 rushing yards, 142 receiving yards, 17 passing yards, and five touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving touchdowns, and one passing).[2]

2012 season

Smith saw reduced playing time during the 2012 season. In the third game of the season, Smith scored two touchdowns on three carries against UMass, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.[18] In his final game at Michigan Stadium, a 42-17 victory over Iowa, Smith scored a touchdown on an 18-yard catch and run.[19] Through the first 11 games of the 2012 season, Smith gained 88 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns.[20] Jadeveon Clowney's tackle of Smith in the 2013 Outback Bowl, which resulted in a fumble and sent Smith's helmet flying five yards downfield, became an Internet sensation as it was one of the most brutal hits of all time. Smith said of the hit: "I couldn't duck or try anything. My head wasn't even down and that's why my helmet popped off."[21][22]

Notes
  1. "Vincent Smith Bio". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  2. "Michigan Football Statistics (11-game Totals)". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  3. "Michigan Football Statistics (13-Game Totals)". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  4. Kyle Meinke (September 20, 2011). "Is Michigan's Vincent Smith too small to be a lead tailback? Offensive coordinator Al Borges thinks not". AnnArbor.com.
  5. Nick Baumgartner (September 17, 2011). "Michigan junior Vincent Smith enters lead running back debate". AnnArbor.com.
  6. Larry Lage (September 18, 2011). "RB Vincent Smith looking for opening from Hoke". Boston Globe.
  7. Michael Rothstein (September 17, 2011). "Vincent Smith makes case to start: In crowded backfield, junior shows with 118 yards on nine carries he deserves more". ESPN.com.
  8. "Hoke names RB Vincent Smith the starter". The Sporting News. September 22, 2011.
  9. Kyle Meinke (September 19, 2011). "Michigan coach Brady Hoke says Vincent Smith 'has earned' right to be lead tailback". AnnArbor.com.
  10. Michael Rothstein (September 20, 2011). "Vincent Smith looks to emerge at RB: Hoke says junior has earned right to start, likes his competitive nature". ESPN.com.
  11. John Taylor (September 22, 2011). "Vincent Smith likely to get the start at RB for Michigan". NBC Sports.
  12. Angelique S. Chengelis (October 6, 2011). "Michigan tailback Vincent Smith tougher than he looks". The Detroit News.
  13. Ryan Autullo (October 5, 2011). "Smith a versatile back: Wolverine can rush, catch, pass, and return kicks". Toledo Blade.
  14. Leah Howard (October 7, 2011). "Vincent Smith: Little Big Man". mgoblue.com. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  15. Chantel Jennings (October 1, 2011). "Vincent Smith puts on variety show: Running back passes for touchdown, runs for one and catches another in rout". ESPN.com.
  16. "Michigan running back Vincent Smith continues to do it all, and makes history in the process". AnnArbor.com. October 1, 2011.
  17. Michael Florek (October 5, 2011). "Smith's versatility paying off for Michigan". The Michigan Daily.
  18. "Michigan-UMass Box Score". ESPN.com.
  19. Michigan-Iowa box score
  20. "Michigan Football Statistics (11-game Totals)". University of Michigan. November 17, 2012.
  21. "Vincent Smith discusses crushing hit". ESPN.com. January 15, 2013.
  22. Kyle Meinke (March 6, 2013). "Jadeveon Clowney talks Vincent Smith hit; 'Life has changed a lot'". mlive.com.
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