Rusty Smith (American football)
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1987)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rusty Smith
| image = Rusty Smith (American football).JPG
| alt =
| caption = Smith with the Titans in 2013
| number = 11
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|1|28}}
| birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 226
| high_school = Sandalwood
(Jacksonville, Florida)
| college = Florida Atlantic (2005–2009)
| draftyear = 2010
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 176
| pastteams = * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2010|2013}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|2014}})*
| pastcoaching = * Grace Christian (2013–2014)
Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
- Grace Christian (2015–2021)
Head coach
| highlights = * Sun Belt Player of the Year (2007)
| statlabel1 = Passing attempts
| statvalue1 = 45
| statlabel2 = Passing completions
| statvalue2 = 23
| statlabel3 = Completion percentage
| statvalue3 = 51.1%
| statvalue4 = 0–4
| statlabel5 = Passing yards
| statvalue5 = 234
| statlabel6 = Passer rating
| statvalue6 = 29.3
| pfr = S/SmitRu01
}}
Russell Edgar Smith (born January 28, 1987) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft.
Smith was with the Titans for four years as a backup, playing in three regular season games with one start. In 2014, he had offseason stints with the New York Giants and later the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). After his playing career ended, he began a career as a high school football coach.
College career
As a sophomore at Florida Atlantic, Smith passed for 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In his four-year career, he started in 45 games for the Owls.{{cite news |last=Kiper Jr. |first=Mel |author-link=Mel Kiper Jr.|title=Rusty Smith and the no-name rookies |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=5852011 |work=ESPN.com |date=November 26, 2010 |access-date=November 26, 2010 }} He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management of Information Systems.{{Cite web | url=https://www.gcalions.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=483691&type=u&pREC_ID=708832 | title=Bio – Rusty Smith – Grace Christian Academy | access-date=February 12, 2018 | archive-date=February 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084508/https://www.gcalions.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=483691&type=u&pREC_ID=708832 | url-status=dead }}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||||||||
| colspan=2 | || colspan=8 | Passing || colspan=3 | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} | {{tooltip|Cmp|Passes completed}} | {{tooltip|Att|Passes attempted}} | {{tooltip|Pct|Completion percentage}} | {{tooltip|Yds|Passing yards}} | {{tooltip|TD|Passing touchdowns}} | {{tooltip|Int|Interceptions}} | {{tooltip|Rtg|Passer rating}} | {{tooltip|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{tooltip|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{tooltip|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} |
| 2006 | Florida Atlantic | 12 | 108 | 194 | 55.7 | 1,285 | 6 | 8 | 107.1 | 25 | -110 | 0 |
| 2007 | Florida Atlantic | 13 | 281 | 479 | 58.7 | 3,688 | 32 | 9 | 141.6 | 39 | -116 | 2 |
| 2008 | Florida Atlantic | 13 | 234 | 435 | 53.8 | 3,224 | 24 | 14 | 127.8 | 37 | -82 | 2 |
| 2009 | Florida Atlantic | 7 | 145 | 253 | 57.3 | 1,915 | 14 | 5 | 135.20 | 14 | -27 | 1 |
| class="sortbottom" style="background:#eee;"
! colspan=2 | Totals | 45 | 768 | 1,361 | 56.0 | 10,112 | 76 | 36 | 127.9 | 115 | -335 | 5 |
Professional career
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5
| weight = 224
| dash = 4.83
| ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.90
| shuttle = 4.61
| cone drill = 7.04
| vertical = 23
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 4
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
| hand span =
| note = All values from Florida Atlantic's Pro Day workout on March 4, 2010{{cite news |title=Rusty Smith, DS #23 QB, Florida Atlantic |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=72777&draftyear=2010&genpos=QB |work=nfldraftscout.com |access-date=November 26, 2010 }}
}}
=Tennessee Titans=
Smith was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the first ever player from FAU to be drafted.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-04-24/sports/rusty-smith-drafted-042210_1_rusty-smith-fau-nfl-draft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427105816/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-04-24/sports/rusty-smith-drafted-042210_1_rusty-smith-fau-nfl-draft |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 27, 2010 |title=Rusty Smith becomes first FAU player ever drafted - Sun Sentinel |publisher=Articles.sun-sentinel.com |date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2010}}
He was signed to a four-year contract on June 17, 2010.{{cite news |title=Titans Agree to terms with Draft Pick Smith |url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/Titans-Agree-to-terms-with-Draft-Pick-Smith/8f632d4c-4d8a-421a-a8fb-825ae3c1b73f |work=titansonline.com |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-date=June 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621053106/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/Titans-Agree-to-terms-with-Draft-Pick-Smith/8f632d4c-4d8a-421a-a8fb-825ae3c1b73f |url-status=dead }}
Smith made his NFL debut on November 21, 2010 against the Washington Redskins after starter Vince Young left the game with an injured throwing hand, completing 3-of-9 passes for 62 yards and one interception. Titans head coach Jeff Fisher later declared that Smith would become the team's starting quarterback due to Young's season-ending thumb surgery and Kerry Collins' calf injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101122/SPORTS01/11220318 |title=Titans now have to rely on rookie quarterback | tennessean.com |publisher=The Tennessean |access-date=November 23, 2010}}
His first start was in a 20-0 shutout loss to the Houston Texans. Smith had 17 completions in 31 passes for 138 yards and was intercepted three times, all by CB Glover Quin.
Smith did not have one snap during the 2011 regular season.
In 2012, he stepped in for Matt Hasselbeck and went 3-of-5 for 34 yards. He was waived/injured by the Titans on August 31, 2013. He was re-signed the next day, and put on the team's practice squad.{{Cite news |last=Kuharsky |first=Paul |date=September 1, 2013 |title=Report: Rusty Smith will join practice squad |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/tennessee-titans/post/_/id/206/report-smith-will-join-practice-squad |access-date=March 19, 2023 |work=ESPN.com}}
=New York Giants=
On Monday April 28, 2014 the New York Giants signed Smith.{{cite web|title=New York Giants Sign QB Rusty Smith|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkgiants/2014/04/28/new-york-giants-sign-qb-rusty-smith/|access-date=2014-04-28|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064639/http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkgiants/2014/04/28/new-york-giants-sign-qb-rusty-smith/|url-status=dead}} Smith was released on May 12, 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://boards.giants.com/showthread.php?46246-Giants-release-QB-Smith-LB-Bradford-CB-Mertile-and-P-Jordan-Gay |title=Giants release QB Smith, LB Bradford, CB Mertile and P Jordan Gay |access-date=2014-05-12 |archive-date=2014-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513065211/http://boards.giants.com/showthread.php?46246-Giants-release-QB-Smith-LB-Bradford-CB-Mertile-and-P-Jordan-Gay |url-status=dead }}
=Calgary Stampeders=
Smith signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on June 4, 2014.{{cite web | url=https://www.stampeders.com/2014/06/04/stamps-sign-two/ | title=STAMPS SIGN TWO | publisher=stampeders.com | date=June 4, 2014 | accessdate=May 22, 2024}} He was released on June 21, 2014.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2014 |title=Rusty Smith, Max Hall among players released in final CFL cuts |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/rusty-smith-max-hall-among-players-released-in-final-cfl-cuts |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=NBC Sports}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} | {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} | {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} | {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} | {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} | {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} |
| 2010 || TEN
| 2 || 1 || 20 || 40 || 50.0 || 200 || 5.0 || 0 || 4 || 25.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2011 || TEN
| 0 || 0 || colspan="12"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}} | |||||||||||||
| 2012 || TEN
| 1 || 0 || 3 || 5 || 60.0 || 34 || 6.8 || 0 || 0 || 80.4 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| Career{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRu01.htm | title=Rusty Smith | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=pro-football-reference.com | access-date=September 10, 2016}} || 3 || 1 || 23 || 45 || 51.1 || 234 || 5.2 || 0 || 4 || 29.3 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 |
Coaching career
In March 2015, Smith was announced as the new head football coach at the Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, having previously worked two years as the program's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.{{cite web|author=Sam Brown|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2015/03/09/former-titan-qb-to-take-over-as-gca-football-coach/24664353/|title=Former Titans QB to coach Grace Christian Academy|work=The Tennessean|date=March 9, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2018}} He parted ways with GCA in February 2022 after eight seasons, having compiled a 21–49 record over seven seasons as head coach and leading the GCA Lions to all three of the team's playoff appearances in 2017 (1A), 2020 and 2021 (both DII-A).{{cite web|author=Donovan Stewarts|url=https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetpreps/grace-christian-academy-in-franklin-searching-for-new-football-coach/|title=Grace Christian Academy in Franklin searching for new football coach|work=mainstreetmediatn.com|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2023}}
Missionary career
After parting ways with GCA, Smith and his family began a two year commitment in Kijabe, Kenya as part of Africa Inland Mission in 2023. He is a teacher at Rift Valley Academy, a Christian boarding school operated by AIM.{{cite web|author=David Dawson|url=https://thebaptistpaper.org/former-titans-qb-heeds-missions-call-moving-to-kenya/|title=Former Titans QB heeds missions call, moving to Kenya|work=TheBaptistPaper.com|date=November 11, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2023}}{{cite web|author=David Dawson|url=https://baptistandreflector.org/game-plan-changes/|title=Game Plan Changes|work=baptistandreflector.org|date=November 11, 2022|access-date=December 16, 2023}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.gcalions.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=483691&type=u&pREC_ID=708832 Grace Christian Academy profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084508/https://www.gcalions.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=483691&type=u&pREC_ID=708832 |date=February 12, 2018 }}
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Florida Atlantic Owls quarterback navbox}}
{{Tennessee Titans starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Titans2010DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Rusty}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks
Category:Players of Canadian football from Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Calgary Stampeders players
Category:Florida Atlantic Owls football players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Tennessee Titans players
Category:High school football coaches in Tennessee
Category:Sandalwood High School alumni
Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida