Kevin Smith: From UCF Knight to Coaching Standout
Kevin Ryan Smith, born on December 17, 1986, is an American professional football coach and former running back. He is currently the running backs coach at LSU. Smith's journey in football began with a stellar college career at the University of Central Florida (UCF), followed by a stint in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, and a transition into coaching.
Early Life and High School Career
A native of Miami, Florida, Smith attended Southridge High School.
College Career at UCF
Smith attended the University of Central Florida, where he played for the UCF Knights football team from 2004 to 2007. He had a standout college career as a Knight, becoming UCF's all-time leading rusher after just three seasons (2005-07).
Record-Breaking Performance
From 2005-07, Smith racked up 4,679 rushing yards which were the most in the state of Florida's history. He became the first player in the state to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.During his time at UCF, Smith set 17 school rushing records while wearing the Black and Gold uniform. Smith established NCAA FBS single-season records with 450 carries and 13 100-yard performances in 2007. He finished just shy of Barry Sanders' single-season rushing mark as Smith finished that year with 2,567 yards on the ground.He started 34 out of 36 games for the Knights, establishing new career records with 905 carries for 4,864 yards (5.37 avg) and 45 touchdowns. His 4,864 yards rank second in Conference USA history, and his 180 points scored in 2007 rank fourth on the NCAA season-record chart. He also achieved a 33.5" vertical jump and benched 225 lbs. 15 times.
Achievements and Accolades
Smith played a huge part in guiding UCF to its first bowl game in 2005 as well as its first league title in 2007 when the Knights reached the Liberty Bowl. He was the 2005 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and the 2007 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year. UCF's first Consensus All-American in program history, Kevin Smith is in his first year as a quality control administrator in 2016. He served as a coaching intern for the Knights in 2015.
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NFL Career with the Detroit Lions
Smith was selected in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions in the third round.
Early Promise
After an impressive preseason showing, Smith was named the starting running back for the Lions for the 2008 season. He was backed by former Cincinnati Bengals star running back Rudi Johnson, whom the Lions had signed just days before the first game of the season.The Dallas Cowboys managed to score big with their first-ever draft pick.
Challenges and Setbacks
He went on to play five years for the Lions, amassing 17 rushing touchdowns while battling injuries during his career.
Contract Negotiations and R Signings
On March 3, 2011, the Lions declined to tender an offer to Smith, making him an unrestricted free agent for the upcoming NFL season. However, on November 7, he was re-signed by Detroit. The move became necessary after Jahvid Best was sidelined following his second concussion of the year.
Notable Performances
On November 20, Smith ran for 140 yards on 16 carries and 61 yards on four receptions. He ran for two touchdowns and caught another as the Lions came back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Carolina Panthers 49-35.
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Injury
On November 24, he was carted off the sidelines after a non-contact injury to his lower leg during the second quarter. It was later revealed that he had a mild ankle sprain with an undetermined return date. After missing several games in December, Kevin Smith returned to the field in Week 16 and found the end zone once through the air and once on the ground as the Lions defeated the San Diego Chargers 38-10. Smith’s second touchdown, a 6-yard run in the third quarter, gave the Lions 51 touchdowns on the season, establishing a new franchise high.
Other teams
Reports have the Detroit Lions considering a trade for LeGarrette Blount. But how does he fit? Mikel Leshoure finally played in his first regular-season game Sunday as the Detroit Lions took on the Tennessee Titans. Sunday's win over the St. Louis Rams showed off the best and worst of Matthew Stafford's big arm. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions overcome turnovers for win over St. Matthew Stafford didn't have the best of days on the football field for the Detroit Lions. But in the end, his team was able to come together. Detroit Lions host revamped St. The Detroit Lions' offense went from dynamic to paper thin in a matter of months. Jahvid Best hasn't played for the Detroit Lions since October of last year when he suffered a concussion. With Fred Jackson on the shelf and a good matchup with the Chiefs on tap, C.J.
Transition to Coaching
Following his playing career, Smith returned to UCF as a coaching intern under head coach George O'Leary in 2015. Smith came back to UCF and received his bachelor's degree in 2015.
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
In 2017, after Lane Kiffin became the head coach of Florida Atlantic University, Smith was hired as Kiffin's running backs coach. They worked together at FAU from 2017 to 2019, when Kiffin left for Ole Miss.
Under Smith’s tutelage at FAU, Devin Singletary became the first running back in NCAA history to score 29 touchdowns in a season since Smith did it himself as a star at UCF. The 2017 FAU running back ranked No. 6 nationally in rushing yards per game (285.3). The No. 6 national ranking was a jump of 45 spots from the previous year. Singletary and fellow FAU running back Kerrith Whyte were both selected in the 2019 NFL draft.
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Ole Miss
In 2020, Smith would accompany Kiffin to Ole Miss. Smith had a quick impact there, coaching the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) leading rushing attack. Ole Miss averaged 210.6 yards per game on the ground, leading the conference and ranking 26th overall. The Rebel running backs scored 19 touchdowns throughout the 10-game season, finishing 6th in the SEC. Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Conner, both sophomores, combined for 17 touchdowns; Ealy's nine led the team. Under Smith's tutelage, Ealy was named second-team All-SEC by Pro Football Focus. Both Ealy and Conner would later go on to play professionally in the National Football League. In 2021, three of Smith's running backs (Ealy, Conner and Henry Parrish Jr.) ranked in the top 25 of the SEC in total rushing yards at the end of the regular season. Ole Miss finished 8-5 in 2022 after being 10-2 the previous season. In 2023, Smith's running backs were part of a dynamic run attack that led Ole Miss to its first 11-win season in program history, as well as a 2023 Peach Bowl victory. Smith coached the dynamic running back duo of Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley IV. Judkins was the SEC Freshman of the Year and first team All-SEC honoree. He had 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns, making him eighth in FBS history and the second in SEC history (Herschel Walker) to have 1,000 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in their rookie and sophomore years.
Miami Hurricanes
In 2022, Kevin Smith was hired by newly hired Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish Jr.
Other players
It may sound crazy, but under the right circumstances, Michael Fabiano says trading Aaron Rodgers might be a good move. Julio Jones near the top of Marcas Grant's "Future Perfect" rankings? Not a surprise. Kevin Ogletree and a slew of other receivers hanging around the top of the list? Adrian Peterson is healthy enough to play. Is he still the best running back in football? What about Arian Foster?
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