Rodney Smith (running back)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{distinguish|Rod Smith (running back)}}
{{Other people|Rodney Smith|Rod Smith (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rodney Smith
| image = 11 5 17.pau.FBCvsMinnesota045 (24361390018).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Smith with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2017
| number = 35, 20
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|28}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 210
| high_school = Mundy's Mill
(Jonesboro, Georgia)
| college = Minnesota (2014–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams = * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2020|2021}})
- Tennessee Titans (2021)*
- Detroit Lions (2021)*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2023}})*
- Pittsburgh Maulers ({{USFL Year|2024}})*
| highlights = * Second-team All-Big Ten (2019)
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2016)
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 156
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.8
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 14
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 107
| pfr = SmitRo08
}}
Rodney Smith (born February 28, 1996) is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Early life
A 2014 graduate of Mundy's Mill High School, Smith played both football and baseball. As a senior, Smith helped lead Mundy's Mill to its best record to date, 8–5, while rushing for 261 times for 2,201 yards and earning first team all-state honors.{{Cite web |title=Rodney Smith |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodney_smith_884712.html |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=GopherSports |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701050339/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodney_smith_884712.html |url-status=dead }} As a baseball player, Smith finished his career by being named the Region 4-AAAAA Player of the Year in Georgia.{{Cite news |last=Mahone |first=Derek |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Rodney Smith named top baseball player in Region 4-AAAAA |agency=Clayton News-Daily |url=http://www.news-daily.com/news/rodney-smith-named-top-baseball-player-in-region--aaaaa/article_22517432-f13c-5bf2-b622-2fbab5e6585c.html |access-date=December 28, 2016}}
As a recruit, Smith was ranked a three-star prospect and the 71st best running back in the 2014 recruiting class by 247Sports.{{Cite web |title=Rodney Smith,Mundy's Mill,Running Back |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Rodney-Smith-37033/?PlayerInstitution=60970 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=247Sports}} Smith was also rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN{{Cite web |title=Rodney Smith – Football Recruiting – Player Profiles |url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/190110/rodney-smith |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=ESPN}} and Scout,{{Cite web |title=Rodney Smith,Mundy's Mill HS RB |url=http://www.scout.com/player/185197-rodney-smith |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=Scout}} while Rivals listed him as a two-star prospect.{{Cite web |title=Rodney Smith |url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/27447 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=Rivals}} Smith committed to Minnesota over offers from East Carolina, Southern Miss, and others, citing the prestige of a Big Ten degree and Minnesota's physical rushing-based offense as key reasons for his decision.{{Cite news |last=Goblirsch |first=Kyle |date=January 24, 2014 |title=Smith "Excited" to be a Gopher |agency=Gopher247 |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Mundys-Mill-GA-RB-Rodney-Smith-recaps-his-Gopher-commitment-173194 |access-date=December 28, 2016}}
College career
=Freshman season=
=Sophomore season=
During his sophomore campaign, Smith took the lead role in the Gophers' backfield, starting the majority of games while splitting the overall workload with fellow sophomore Shannon Brooks.{{Cite news |last=Ward |first=Austin |date=December 14, 2016 |title=Season Review: Tracy Claeys, Minnesota show clear signs of progress |agency=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/139996/season-review-tracy-claeys-minnesota-show-clear-signs-of-progress |access-date=December 28, 2016}} During the regular season, Smith rushed for 1,084 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning third-team all-Big Ten Conference honors for his efforts. The 15 touchdowns would also rank, at the time, as the third most rushing touchdowns in a single season for a Gophers running back.{{Cite news |date=November 30, 2016 |title=Four Gophers on Offense Honored by B1G |agency=GopherSports |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113016aaa.html |access-date=December 28, 2016}} The Gophers would qualify for the Holiday Bowl, taking on Washingston State. Smith starred in the game, leading all rushers with 17 carries for 74 yards and added a touchdown, which earned him the offensive MVP award for the Holiday Bowl.{{Cite news |date=December 27, 2016 |title=Minnesota emerges from turmoil to upset WSU in Holiday Bowl |agency=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/college-football/game/1697034 |access-date=December 28, 2016}}{{Cite news |date=December 27, 2016 |title=Holiday Bowl MVP's given to Blake Cashman and Rodney Smith |agency=The Daily Gopher |url=http://www.thedailygopher.com/2016/12/27/14097182/holiday-bowl-mvp-minnesota-football-blake-cashman-rodney-smith |access-date=December 28, 2016}}
=Junior season=
Smith continued to be the lead back for the Gophers during the 2017 season, sharing carries with Shannon Brooks and Kobe McCrary, but saw his production decrease as the production of the offense as a whole decreased. This was due to many factors, mainly a first-year head coach in P. J. Fleck, a first-year offensive coordinator in Kirk Ciarrocca, as well as inconsistent QB play after the departure of 3-year starter Mitch Leidner. Still, Smith ran for 977 yards, which was 7th in the Big Ten, as well as 3 touchdowns that earned him an all-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media.{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2017 |title=View the 2017 All-Big Ten Football Offensive Teams |url=https://btn.com/2017/11/29/view-the-2017-all-big-ten-football-offensive-teams/ |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Big Ten Network |language=en-US}}
=(Redshirt) Senior season=
Smith started off his senior campaign in 2018 with a bang, rushing for a (then) career-high 156 yards against New Mexico State in a 48–10 victory. However, in the next game against Fresno State, on just the third play from scrimmage, Smith tore his ACL on his left knee.{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2018 |title=Gophers' Rodney Smith Out For Season With Torn ACL |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/09/10/minnesota-gophers-rodney-smith-torn-acl/ |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=CBS – Minnesota |language=en-US}}
This injury kept him out for the remainder of the season. Smith was then granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA, having already redshirted once during his first year on campus.{{Cite web |last=Greder |first=Andy |date=September 10, 2018 |title=Gophers running back Rodney Smith is out for the season, to seek sixth year |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/4497265-gophers-running-back-rodney-smith-out-season-seek-sixth-year |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Grand Forks Herald |language=en}}
=Senior season=
As a sixth year senior, Smith once again emerged as the primary ball carrier, while sophomore Mohamed Ibrahim and fellow senior Shannon Brooks also shared the workload. After a relatively slow start in the Gophers' three non-conference games, Smith ran for over 100 yards and at least 1 touchdown in each of the first five conference games, including a career-high 211 yard performance on just 24 carries against Illinois. Smith finished the season with a career-high 1,163 rushing yards. That number was good for 3rd in the Big Ten, behind only J. K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor. He also ran for 8 touchdowns, and was awarded all-Big Ten 2nd team honors by both the coaches and media.{{Cite web |title=Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Offense and Select Individual Honors |url=http://bigten.org/news/2019/12/4/big-ten-announces-football-all-conference-teams-for-offense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205021615/https://bigten.org/news/2019/12/4/big-ten-announces-football-all-conference-teams-for-offense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Big Ten Conference |language=en}} Smith left Minnesota 2nd all-time in rushing, with 4,125 yards, 6th all-time in rushing touchdowns, with 29, 2nd all-time in yards from scrimmage, with 4,646, and 1st all-time in all-purpose yards, with 5,444.{{Cite web |title=Smith Vaults into Record Book |url=https://gophersports.com/news/2019/10/30/football-smith-vaults-into-record-book.aspx |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |language=en}}
=College statistics=
Smith's statistics are as follows:{{Cite web |title=Mitch Leidner |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rodney-smith-5.html |access-date=December 28, 2016 |website=www.sports-reference.com |publisher=USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||
| ! colspan="14" style="background: #7A0019; border: 2px solid #FFCC33; color:#FFCC33;" |{{center|Minnesota Golden Gophers}} | |||||||
| rowspan=2|Season
! colspan=5|Rushing ! colspan=3|Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yards | Avg | Yds/G | TD | Rec | Yards | TD |
| 2014
| colspan=8|Redshirt | |||||||
| 2015
| 157 | 670 | 4.3 | 55.8 | 2 | 16 | 124 | 0 |
| 2016
| 240 | 1,158 | 4.8 | 89.1 | 16 | 23 | 188 | 0 |
| 2017
| 229 | 977 | 4.3 | 81.4 | 3 | 17 | 107 | 0 |
| 2018
| 25 | 154 | 6.2 | 77 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019
| 228 | 1,163 | 5.1 | 89.5 | 8 | 7 | 70 | 0 |
| NCAA career totals
! 879 | 4,125 | 4.7 | 81.54 | 29 | 65 | 521 | 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10
| weight = 210
| dash =
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical =
| broad ft =
| broad in =
| bench =
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| hand span =
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131995&DraftYear=2020 |title=Rodney Smith, Minnesota, RB, 2020 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 23, 2021}}
}}
=Carolina Panthers=
After not being selected in the 2020 NFL draft, Smith signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Tim |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Panthers 2020 undrafted free agent tracker |url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/25/panthers-2020-undrafted-free-agent-tracker/ |access-date=April 25, 2020 |publisher=USAToday}} He was waived on August 1, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Myles |date=August 1, 2020 |title=Panthers waive five, reduce roster to 80 |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/carolina-waives-five-reduces-roster-80-players |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Panthers.com}} He was signed to the practice squad on October 12, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Tim |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Panthers bring back rookie RB Rodney Smith for practice squad |url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2020/10/12/panthers-rodney-smith-practice-squad/ |access-date=October 29, 2020 |website=USAToday.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 14, 2020.{{Cite web |title=Panthers' Rodney Smith: Promoted to active roster |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/panthers-rodney-smith-promoted-to-active-roster/ |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} In Week 10 of the 2020 season, he made his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had three carries for 13 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers – November 15th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011150car.htm |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In the final game of the 2020 NFL season, he scored his first career rushing touchdown against Carolina's division rivals New Orleans Saints in a 33-7 loss.{{Cite web|title=HIGHLIGHT: Rodney Smith scores first career TD|url=https://www.panthers.com/video/highlight-rodney-smith-scores-first-career-td|access-date=2021-01-04|website=www.panthers.com|language=en-US}}
On August 31, 2021, Smith was waived by the Panthers, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Panthers make final move to set initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-make-final-move-to-set-initial-53-man-roster|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Panthers announce practice squad signings on Wednesday|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-announce-practice-squad-signings-on-wednesday|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=September 1, 2021}} He was released on October 11.{{cite web |last1=Callihan |first1=Schuyler |title=Panthers Release RB Rodney Smith |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/news/panthers-release-rb-rodney-smith |website=SI.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=29 October 2021 |date=11 October 2021}}
=Tennessee Titans=
Smith signed with the Tennessee Titans' practice squad on November 23, 2021.{{cite web|title=Titans Make 13 Roster Moves – On the Active Roster, Practice Squad and Injured Reserve – On a Busy Tuesday|work=TennesseeTitans.com|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-make-13-roster-moves-on-the-active-roster-practice-squad-and-injured-rese|date=November 23, 2021|accessdate=November 23, 2021|first=Jim|last=Wyatt}} He was released on December 8.{{cite web|title=Titans Add RB Jordan Wilkins, DB Rodney Clemons to Practice Squad|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-add-rb-jordan-wilkins-db-rodney-clemons-to-practice-squad|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=December 8, 2021|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120044205/https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-add-rb-jordan-wilkins-db-rodney-clemons-to-practice-squad|url-status=dead}}
=Detroit Lions=
On December 11, 2021, Smith was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.{{cite web|title=Lions' Rodney Smith: Signed from practice squad|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-rodney-smith-signed-from-practice-squad/|work=CBS Sports|date=December 11, 2021}} He was released on January 8, 2022.
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
On March 13, 2023, Smith was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=Gainer Approved: Riders sign former Gophers' RB Rodney Smith |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/03/13/gainer-approved-riders-sign-former-gophers-rb-rodney-smith/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} On June 4, 2023, Smith was released by the Roughriders.{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2023/06/04/saskatchewan-roughriders-release-22-including-rb-kienan-lafrance/|title=Saskatchewan Roughriders release 22, including RB Kienan LaFrance |publisher=3DownNation |access-date=June 4, 2023}} He was re-signed on June 20,{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Riders Bring Back Running Back Rodney Smith |url=https://www.riderville.com/2023/06/20/riders-bring-back-running-back-rodney-smith/ |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=Riderville.com}} and released again on July 25.{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2023 |title=Riders Add Veteran DB Trumaine Washington |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/riders-add-veteran-db-trumaine-washington/ |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=OurSports Central}}
=Pittsburgh Maulers=
On September 23, 2023, Smith signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL).{{Cite web |last=Larsen |first=James |date=2023-09-23 |title=Pittsburgh Maulers Sign Free Agent RB Rodney Smith For 2024 |url=https://usflnewsroom.com/news/pittsburgh-maulers-sign-free-agent-rb-rodney-smith-for-2024/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=USFL Newsroom |language=en-US}} The Maulers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
=Retirement=
Smith announced his retirement from football on January 17, 2024, via an Instagram post.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Regular season statistics | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Year | rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|GP | rowspan="2"|GS | colspan="5"|Rushing | colspan="5"|Receiving | colspan="2"|Fumbles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2020 | CAR
| 7 || 1 || 41 || 156 || 3.8 || 13 || 1 || 9 || 59 || 6.6 || 12 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | CAR
| 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 48 || 9.6 || 17 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total || 9 || 1 || 41 || 156 || 3.8 || 13 || 1 || 14 || 107 || 7.6 || 17 || 0 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||
| colspan="16"|Source: [https://www.nfl.com/players/rodney-smith-2/stats/career NFL.com] |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://gophersports.com/sports/football/roster/rodney-smith/16411 Minnesota Golden Gophers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Rodney}}
Category:Players of American football from Jonesboro, Georgia
Category:American football running backs
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football players
Category:Carolina Panthers players
Category:Tennessee Titans players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Pittsburgh Maulers (2022) players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)