Fish Smithson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Fish Smithson
| image = Fish Smithson 2017.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Smithson with the Washington Redskins in 2017
| current_team =
| number = 37, 46
| position = Free safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|18|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 196
| high_school = Highland (Salt Lake City, Utah)
| college = Kansas
| undraftedyear = 2017
| pastteams =
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2019}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 1
}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
Anthony “Fish” Smithson{{cite web|title=2014 Football Roster - Fish Smithson|url=http://www.kuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5725|website=KUAtletics.com| date=January 21, 2014 }} (born March 18, 1994) is a former American football free safety. He played college football at the University of Kansas. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens.
College career
=Hartnell=
Smithson initially committed to play at Hartnell College out of high school where he played his freshman year.
=Kansas=
Following his freshman year at Hartnell, he transferred to the University of Kansas. In 2015, he led the nation in solo tackles,{{cite web|title=Big Fish: Smithson has proven to be a valuable Jayhawk|url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/dec/26/big-fish-smithson-proven-valuable-jayhawk/|website=KUAthletics.com|date=December 26, 2015 }} which led to him being named Second-team All-Big 12.{{cite web|title=2016 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211345089|website=Big12Sports.com}} In 2016 he was named First-team All-Big 12.{{cite web|title=2015 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210570297|website=Big12Sports.com}}
Professional career
=Washington Redskins=
After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, Smithson signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent.{{cite web|title=Former Jayhawks Smithson and Stewart sign as undrafted free agents|url=http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Former-Jayhawks-Smithson-and-Stewart-sign-as-undrafted-free-agents-420829033.html|website=WIBW.com}} He was waived on September 2, 2017, during roster cutdowns.{{cite web|title=9/2: Redskins Make Roster Moves|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/9-2-redskins-make-roster-moves-19307741|website=Redskins.com|date=September 2, 2017}} The following day, he was signed to the Redskins' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Redskins Sign Seven Players To The Practice Squad|url=http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Seven-Players-To-The-Practice-Squad/19305edb-622d-448e-b778-56d00c2a8e2c|author=Czarda, Stephen|website=Redskins.com|date=September 3, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201045708/http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Seven-Players-To-The-Practice-Squad/19305edb-622d-448e-b778-56d00c2a8e2c|archivedate=February 1, 2018}} He was elevated to the active roster on December 19, 2017.{{cite web|title=Redskins Place Montae Nicholson On Injured Reserve, Sign Fish Smithson|url=http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Place-Montae-Nicholson-On-Injured-Reserve-Sign-Fish-Smithson/4ecdb77d-aaf9-4e71-9bc3-9cfd9e557d4c|author=Czarda, Stephen|website=Redskins.com|date=December 19, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222133544/http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Place-Montae-Nicholson-On-Injured-Reserve-Sign-Fish-Smithson/4ecdb77d-aaf9-4e71-9bc3-9cfd9e557d4c|archivedate=December 22, 2017}}
On September 1, 2018, Smithson was waived for final roster cuts before the start of the 2018 season.{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/9-1-redskins-make-roster-moves|title=9/1: Redskins Make Roster Moves|date=September 1, 2018|accessdate=September 1, 2018|archive-date=September 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902052302/https://www.redskins.com/news/9-1-redskins-make-roster-moves|url-status=dead}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On December 19, 2018, Smithson was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.{{cite web|title=Cardinals add LB Pete Robertson, S Fish Smithson|url=http://arizonasports.com/story/1777008/cardinals-add-lb-pete-robertson-s-fish-smithson/|website=ArizonaSports.com|date=December 19, 2018}} He was released six days later.{{cite web|title=With Waiver Claim, Cardinals Bring Back D.J. Swearinger|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/with-waiver-claim-cardinals-bring-back-d-j-swearinger|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=December 25, 2018}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On January 3, 2019, Smithson was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.{{cite web|title=Chargers sign S Fish Smithson to practice squad|url=https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2019/1/3/18167371/chargers-sign-fish-smithson-practice-squad|work=Bolts From The Blue|date=January 3, 2019}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On July 25, 2019, Smithson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was waived on August 4.{{cite web|title=Jaguars sign CB Josh Robinson and S Anthony "Fish" Smithson|url=https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2019/7/26/8931430/jaguars-sign-cb-josh-robinson-and-s-anthony-fish-smithson|work=Big Cat Country|date=July 26, 2019}}
=Baltimore Ravens=
On August 27, 2019, Smithson signed with the Baltimore Ravens.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |title=Ravens Sign Defensive Back Fish Smithson, Who Can't Swim |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-sign-defensive-back-fish-smithson-who-can-t-swim |website=BaltimoreRavens.com |accessdate=August 27, 2019}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2019, and was released on March 18, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/fish-smithson-parts-ways-with-ravens/|title=Fish Smithson: Parts ways with Ravens|website=CBSSports.com|language=en|access-date=March 28, 2020}}
Personal life
Smithson's brother, Antoine "Shaky" Smithson, played wide receiver at the University of Utah and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2011 but was shortly released off of injured reserve with an injury settlement.[http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-cut-newbies-el6mq0l-168239866.html Packers make cuts, newcomers targeted] Journal Sentinel, accessed June 29, 2013 His nickname "Fish" was given to him by his grandmother as a child due to his fear of fish.{{cite web |title=Fish Smithson on his nickname, not being able to swim |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/video/fish-smithson-his-nickname-not-being-able-swim |website=NBC Sports |accessdate=August 27, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.kuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7064 Kansas Jayhawks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithson, Fish}}
Category:Players of American football from Baltimore
Category:American football safeties
Category:Hartnell Panthers football players
Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players