Chris Smith (running back, born 1999)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Chris Smith
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Hamilton Tiger-Cats
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|9|8}}
| birth_place = Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 194
| high_school = Nanih Waiya
(Louisville, Mississippi)
| college = Louisiana (2018–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{XFL Year|2024}})*
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2024}})
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| cflstatus = American
| highlights =
- All-American (2020)
- 2× First-team All-Sun Belt (2020, 2021)
| cfl = chris-smith/168145/
}}
Chris Smith (born September 8, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Louisiana.
Early life
Smith was born on September 8, 1999, in Meridian, Mississippi. He attended Nanih Waiya High School, being named the 2016 "Mr. Football".{{Cite web|url=https://ragincajuns.com/sports/football/roster/chris-smith/8359|website=Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns|title=Chris Smith - Football - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns}}
College career
=2018–2019=
Smith committed to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, spending his first year as a redshirt and appearing in four games. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Smith appeared in every game of the season and placed fourth on the roster with 334 rushing yards. He ran for four touchdowns on the year.
=2020–2021=
In 2020, Smith appeared in all 11 games for the school and served as their return specialist and third running back. As a returner, Smith made 23 kick returns for 617 yards and two touchdowns, and twice earned conference special teams player of the week honors. He finished the season with 1,137 all-purpose yards, 30th most in the nation. Following the season, he was named a first-team All-America selection by CBS and 247Sports.com.{{Cite web|url=https://espnlafayette.com/ragin-cajun-rbkr-chris-smith-named-1st-team-all-american/|website=ESPN|title=Ragin' Cajun RB/KR Chris Smith Named 1st Team All-American|date=December 23, 2020|author=Prather, Scott}}
In 2021, Smith earned the starting running back role and led the team with 855 rushing yards on the year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/ul/2021/12/13/new-orleans-bowl-injuries-louisiana-ragin-cajuns-running-back-chris-smith-questionable-marshall/6498889001/|newspaper=The Daily Advertiser|title=Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns running back Chris Smith questionable for the New Orleans Bowl|author=Buckley, Tim|date=December 13, 2021}} In a 28–27 win over Arkansas State, he ran for a career-high 238 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/ul/2021/10/22/louisiana-ragin-cajuns-football-chris-smith-loses-friend-gun-violence/8469338002/|website=The Daily Advertiser|author=Buckley, Tim|title=After losing friend to gun violence, Chris Smith runs for 238 yards for Ragin' Cajuns|date=October 22, 2021}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8 5/8
| weight = 194
| dash = 4.49
| ten split = 1.40
| twenty split = 2.51
| shuttle = 4.44
| cone drill = 7.20
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 12
| arm span = 30 3/8
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1050652&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Chris Smith College Football Profile |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
Smith signed with the Seattle Seahawks on May 12, 2023 as an undrafted free agent.{{cite news|title=Seahawks Sign 25 Undrafted Free Agents, Six 2023 Draft Picks|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-25-undrafted-free-agents-six-2023-draft-picks|website=Seahawks.com|date=May 12, 2023}} He was waived on June 1, 2023.{{cite news|title=Seahawks Sign Cornerbacks Montrae Braswell & Benjie Franklin|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-cornerbacks-montrae-braswell-benjie-franklin|website=Seahawks.com|date=June 1, 2023}}
= San Antonio Brahmas =
On June 16, 2023, Smith was selected by the San Antonio Brahmas as part of the XFL Rookie Draft.{{Cite web |title=XFL Completes Rookie Draft |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-completes-rookie-draft |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}} He was signed on October 24, 2023.{{Cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}}
= Winnipeg Blue Bombers =
On February 5, 2024, it was announced that Smith signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{cite web |title=2024 CFL Transactions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2024/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 6, 2024}} He played in four regular season games where he had 13 punt returns for 141 yards and four kickoff returns for 247 yards.{{cite web |title=Chris Smith |url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/chris-smith/168145/ |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 20, 2025}} He finished the season on the practice roster where his contract expired on November 18, 2024.
= Hamilton Tiger-Cats =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ticats.ca/players/chris-smith/168145/ Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio]
{{Hamilton Tiger-Cats roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Chris}}
Category:Players of American football from Mississippi
Category:American football running backs
Category:Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football players
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:San Antonio Brahmas players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:People from Meridian, Mississippi