Steve Smith (wide receiver, born 1974)

Steve Smith
No. 84
Position: Offensive specialist
Personal information
Date of birth: (1974-05-30) May 30, 1974
Place of birth: Belle Glade, Florida
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Belle Glade (FL) Glades Central
College: Utah State
Undrafted: 1998
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career Arena statistics
Receptions: 418
Receiving yards: 5,059
Touchdowns: 106
Kick returns / Yards: 228 / 4,810
Return touchdowns: 11
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Steve Smith (born May 30, 1974) is a former arena football offensive specialist. He played college football at Utah State. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

In his career, Smith also played for the Buffalo Destroyers, Grand Rapids Rampage, Philadelphia Soul, and Kansas City Brigade. While he spent most of his career in the Arena Football League (AFL), he did spend time in the original Indoor Football League (IFL) as a member of the Flint Flames, as well as the short-lived XFL as a member of the Birmingham Thunderbolts.

College career

Junior college

Smith first attended Independence Community Junior College where he was an option quarterback for his freshman season. He then transferred to Chaffey Junior College where he converted to wide receiver. After the team started the season 0-3, he was switched back to quarterback. He went on to be junior college All-America selection.

Utah State

In February 1996, he signed to play football at Utah State University as a wide receiver and kick returner.[1] He majored in sociology.[2] As a junior in 1996, he appeared in 11 games. He recorded 32 receptions for 555 yards, and two touchdowns. He carried the ball five times for 69 yards and one touchdown. He returned 17 kickoff returns for 308 yards, he also returned six punts for 20 yards. In 1997 as a senior, he recorded 37 receptions for 686 yards and three touchdowns. He carried the ball 11 times fr 66 yards. He also returned 22 kickoffs for 439 yards as well as 22 punts for 344 yards and two touchdowns.[3] As a senior, he was a First-team All-Big West selection as a kick returner. He led the conference in punt returns, (15.6 avg.). After recording four receptions for 136 yards, one touchdown and returning two puts for 26 yards and two kickoffs for 58 yards, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl.

Professional career

After going unselected in the 1998 NFL Draft, Smith signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was out of football in 1999 and in 2000 he spent time with the Flint Flames of the original Indoor Football League.[2] In 2001, he joined the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the short-lived XFL. While with the Thunderbolts, he recorded eight receptions for 54 yards, and one carry for 13 yards.[2]

Return to arena football

Shortly after the XFL season ended, Smith joined the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League (AFL) as an offensive specialist. For the 2001 season, he recorded, six receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown, as well as one kick return for 20 yards.

In 2002, he joined the Grand Rapids Rampage. For the season, he recorded 72 receptions for 872 yards and 26 touchdowns, and two carries for four yards and one touchdown. He recorded eight tackles and also returned three kicks for 37 yards. In 2003 he recorded 91 receptions for 1,071 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for four yards and one touchdown. He recorded 19 total tackles. He also returned 21 kicks for 566 yards and three touchdowns. In 2004, his final in Grand Rapids, he recorded 59 receptions for 658 yards and 10 touchdowns. He carried the ball twice for a loss of one yard. He recorded one total tackle. He also returned 71 kicks for 1,683 yards and five touchdowns.

In 2005, Smith joined the Philadelphia Soul. In his first game with the Soul, he recorded five touchdown receptions from quarterback Tony Graziani.[4] On the season, Smith recorded 107 receptions for 1,443 and 28 touchdowns, and five carries for a loss of one yard. He recorded four tackles. He also returned 74 kicks for 1,523 yards and three touchdowns. In 2006, while with the Soul, he recorded 41 receptions for 419 yards and five touchdowns. He recorded one tackle. He also returned 20 kicks for 329 yards. Part way through the 2006 season, he joined the Kansas City Brigade where he recorded 42 receptions for 534 yards and nine touchdowns. He carried the ball twice for nine yards. He recorded one tackle. He also returned 38 kicks for 652 yards.[5]

Career statistics

Season Receiving Rushing Tackles Kick returns
Year Team League Rec Yds Avg Lng. TD Att Yds Avg Lng. TD Solo. Asst. Total Ret. Yds. Avg. Lng TD
2001 BIR XFL 8 84 6.8 15 1 1 13 13.0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001 BUF AFL 6 62 10.3 -- 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 20.0 20 0
2002 GR AFL 72 872 12.1 -- 26 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 8 3 37 12.3 -- 0
2003 GR AFL 91 1,071 11.8 -- 27 2 4 2.0 -- 1 9 5 14 21 566 27.0 -- 3
2004 GR AFL 59 658 11.2 -- 10 2 -1 -0.5 -- 0 0 1 1 71 1,683 23.7 -- 5
2005 PHI AFL 107 1,443 13.5 -- 28 5 -1 -0.2 -- 0 4 0 4 74 1,523 20.6 -- 3
2006 PHI AFL 41 419 10.2 -- 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1 20 329 16.5 -- 0
2006 KC AFL 42 534 12.7 -- 9 2 9 4.5 -- 0 1 0 1 38 652 17.2 -- 0
Career 418 5,059 12.1 -- 106 11 11 1.0 -- 1 21 8 29 228 4,810 21.1 -- 11

References

  1. ↑ Hamilton, Linda (February 7, 1996). "JC, Prep Signees Should Bolster USU Football". DesertNews.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Birmingham Bolts Roster: Steve Smith". All-XFL.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Steve Smith College Stats". Sports-References.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Team History". PhialdelphiaSoul.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Steve Smith". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
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