| File:Rod Smith (running back).JPG Smith with the Dallas Cowboys | |
| No. 45 | |
| Running back | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: January 10, 1992 | |
| Place of birth: Fort Wayne, Indiana | |
| Career information | |
| College: Ohio State | |
| Undrafted in 2015 | |
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |
| Career history | |
* Seattle Seahawks ( 2015)
| |
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NFL statistics as of 2018 | |
| Rushing attempts | 101 |
| Rushing yards | 364 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 5 |
| Receptions | 30 |
| Receiving yards | 272 |
| Receiving touchdowns | 1 |
| Stats at pro-football-reference.com | |
.JPG){kind=link}
Rod Smith (born January 10, 1992) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college football at Ohio State.
Early years[]
Smith attended Paul Harding High School, where he received All-state and player of the year honors as a senior.[1] He graduated after rushing 1,000 times for a SAC conference career rushing record of 6,625 yards and 66 touchdowns.[2]
As a senior, he also was an All-conference basketball player and was a part of the state's runner-up 4 × 100 metres relay team.
College career[]
Smith accepted a football scholarship from Ohio State University as a highly rated recruit.[3] As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 10 games, opening the season against the University of Akron with 18 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown. The next week against the University of Toledo he started to show a fumble problem, diminishing the coaching staff confidence in him. His production was limited the rest of the season behind Dan Herron, Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall. He registered 29 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown, while playing mainly on special teams. He was also suspended after missing the team flight to the 2012 Gator Bowl.
As a sophomore, he was a backup behind Hyde and Jordan, appearing in 12 games with 32 carries for 215 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team in kickoff returns (13), total return yards (303) and return average (23.3). His best game came against Penn State University, tallying 4 carries for 48 yards.
As a junior, he was suspended for an undisclosed offseason incident for the season opener against the University at Buffalo. He fell back in the running back rotation behind Hyde, Jordan, Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott. He recorded 22 carries for 117 yards (5.3-yard average) and one touchdown.
As a senior, he missed most of spring camp for academic reasons. He still emerged as the team's goal line running back behind sophomore starter Elliott, posting 24 carries for 101 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also contributing on special teams. On October 27, he was dismissed from the football team after a failed drug test and decided to declare for the NFL Draft.[4][5] He finished his college career with 549 rushing yards on 107 carries with ten touchdowns.[6]
Professional career[]
Seattle Seahawks[]
Smith was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks after the 2015 NFL Draft on May 2.[7] He was waived on September 5 and signed to the practice squad the next day.
On October 10, he was promoted to the active roster to provide depth while running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson recovered from injuries. He played in one game against the Cincinnati Bengals, rushing for five yards on two carries.[8][9] He was released on October 13.
Dallas Cowboys[]
2015 season[]
On October 14, 2015, he was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys.[10] He became the third-string running back after Joseph Randle was released on November 3. He appeared in 10 games, playing mainly on special teams and having one kickoff return for 26 yards.[11]
2016 season[]
In 2016, Smith was moved to fullback during OTAs, although he did not have the traditional size and body. He competed with converted linebacker Keith Smith for the position and both made the team, although Rod was used only for special teams purposes. On November 3, after injuries to Morris Claiborne and Barry Church, the Cowboys were forced to release him to make room for cornerback Leon McFadden. Smith was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[12][13] At the time, he was tied for second on the team with four special teams tackles.
2017 season[]
Smith signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on January 16, 2017.[14] In 2017, he returned to running back behind Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris, and Darren McFadden. During the preseason, he was moved up to third-string because of his improved play and production on special teams. On September 17, in week 2 against the Denver Broncos, Smith had his first two carries with the Cowboys, which went for eight yards during a 42–17 defeat.[15]
When Elliott was suspended for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Smith ended up earning more playing time behind Alfred Morris. On Thanksgiving Day against the Los Angeles Chargers, Smith scored his first professional touchdown on a 2-yard rush. He finished the game with 41 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and seven receiving yards.[16] During Week 13 against the Washington Redskins, Smith ran for 27 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys won by a score of 38-14.[17]
In the next game against the New York Giants, Smith had 47 rushing yards and a touchdown along with 113 receiving yards, including an 81-yard touchdown reception, helping secure a 30-10 win.[18] During Week 15 against the Oakland Raiders, Smith rushed for 13 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys narrowly won by a score of 20-17.[19]
When Elliott returned from his suspension in Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith's productivity dropped since he only rushed for 10 yards in that game.[20] He was declared inactive for the last game against the Philadelphia Eagles, after battling an illness and a sore back. Smith finished the season with 55 carries for 232 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, 202 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.[21]
2018 season[]
Smith wasn’t a factor on offense as the backup running back, but maintained his role as a core special teams player. His most action on offense came in the season finale against the New York Giants, registering 12 carries for 35 yards and one touchdown, when starter Ezekiel Elliott sat out to rest for the playoffs. His numbers decreased from the previous season to 44 carries for 127 yards and one touchdown.[22]
New York Giants[]
2019 season[]
On May 8, 2019, Smith signed with the New York Giants.[23]
NFL statistics[]
Regular season[]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2015 | SEA | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DAL | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | DAL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | DAL | 15 | 1 | 55 | 232 | 4.2 | 45 | 4 | 19 | 202 | 10.6 | 81T | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | DAL | 16 | 1 | 44 | 127 | 2.9 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 60 | 6.7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 49 | 2 | 101 | 364 | 3.6 | 45 | 5 | 30 | 272 | 9.1 | 81T | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Postseason[]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2018 | DAL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Personal life[]
Smith's younger brother, Jaylon, plays for the Dallas Cowboys .[24]
References[]
- ↑ "Harding gradNFL filled with highlights and heartbreak" (in en-US). WANE. July 26, 2017. http://wane.com/2017/07/26/harding-grad-rod-smith-journey-to-nfl-filled-with-highlights-and-heartbreak/.
- ↑ "The 'surreal' path brothers Jaylon, Rod Smith took to the Cowboys to play together for the first time" (in en). SportsDay. December 10, 2017. https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/12/10/surreal-path-brothers-jaylon-rod-smith-took-cowboys-play-together-first-time.
- ↑ "Rod Smith College Stats" (in en). https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rod-smith-5.html.
- ↑ "Report: Ohio St. axes RB Smith for failed test". ESPN.com. http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11776801/rod-smith-ohio-state-buckeyes-dismissed-failed-drug-test.
- ↑ "Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer confirms RB Rod Smith's dismissal from team". http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/10/ohio_state_football_rod_smith.html.
- ↑ "Rod Smith Career Game Log" (in en). https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rod-smith-5/gamelog/.
- ↑ "Rod Smith, dismissed from Ohio State football team in October, signs undrafted free agent deal with Seattle Seahawks". http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2015/05/rod_smith_ohio_state_dismissed.html.
- ↑ "Seattle Seahawks promote RB Rod Smith to 53-man roster, place CB Tharold Simon on IR". October 10, 2015. http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seattle-seahawks-promote-rb-rod-smith-to-53-man-roster-place-cb-tharold-simon-on-ir/.
- ↑ "Seattle Seahawks release WR B.J. Daniels, RB Rod Smith". October 13, 2015. http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seattle-seahawks-release-b-j-daniels-rod-smith-add-cb-crezdon-butler/.
- ↑ "Cowboys claim Seattle RB Rod Smith off waivers". October 14, 2015. https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2015/10/14/cowboys-claim-seattle-rb-rod-smith-waivers.
- ↑ "Rod Smith 2015 Game Log" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRo06/gamelog/2015/.
- ↑ Phillips, Rob (November 3, 2016). "Cowboys Waive Fullback Rod Smith, Create Open Roster Spot". https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-waive-fullback-rod-smith-create-open-roster-spot-418876.
- ↑ "Cowboys Sign FB Rod Smith To Practice Squad". November 5, 2016. http://nfltraderumors.co/cowboys-sign-fb-rod-smith-practice-squad/.
- ↑ Eatman, Nick (January 16, 2017). "Showers, Rod Smith Among 12 Players Signed To Cowboys Offseason Roster". Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018164505/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/01/16/showers-rod-smith-among-12-players-signed-cowboys-offseason-roster.
- ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos - September 17th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709170den.htm. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys - November 23rd, 2017" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201711230dal.htm.
- ↑ "Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys - November 30th, 2017" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201711300dal.htm.
- ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants - December 10th, 2017" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201712100nyg.htm.
- ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders - December 17th, 2017" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201712170rai.htm.
- ↑ "Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys - December 24th, 2017" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201712240dal.htm.
- ↑ "Rod Smith 2017 Game Log" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRo06/gamelog/2017/.
- ↑ "Rod Smith 2018 Game Log" (in en). https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRo06/gamelog/2018/.
- ↑ Eisen, Michael (May 8, 2019). "Giants sign former Cowboys RB Rod Smith". https://www.giants.com/news/giants-sign-former-cowboys-rb-rod-smith.
- ↑ Merrill, Elizabeth. "Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith cries, celebrates draft selection". http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2016/story/_/id/15430334/2016-nfl-draft-jaylon-smith-cries-tears-joy-selection-dallas-cowboys-no-34. Retrieved May 8, 2016.