Antowain Smith facts for kids
Smith during a Houston Texans preseason game in 2006
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| No. 23, 32 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | March 14, 1972 Millbrook, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Stanhope Elmore (Millbrook) | ||||||||||
| College: | East Mississippi JC (1993–1994) Houston (1995–1996) |
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| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Antowain Drurell Smith, born on March 14, 1972, is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. Smith is best known for his time with the New England Patriots, where he helped them win two Super Bowl championships. He also played for the Buffalo Bills. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 232 pounds, Smith was known for his strong running style. He was very good at running with the ball right through the middle of the defense.
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Early Life and High School Football
Antowain Smith grew up in Millbrook, Alabama. He went to Stanhope Elmore High School. Even though he became a professional football player, he only played football during his senior year of high school.
College Football Journey
After high school, Smith worked in a factory for two years. Then, in 1993, he decided to go to college. He started at East Mississippi Junior College. There, he became an All-American running back, which means he was one of the best junior college players in the country.
In 1995, Smith moved to the University of Houston. He played for the Houston Cougars football team for two seasons. During his time at Houston, he ran for 1,847 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in 21 games. He even set some school records, like the longest touchdown run in school history, which was 96 yards! In one game, he scored six touchdowns, which is an amazing achievement.
In his last year of college, Smith ran for 1,239 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 201 yards and scored another touchdown.
Playing in the NFL
Starting with the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills chose Antowain Smith in the first round of the 1997 NFL draft. This meant he was one of the top players picked that year. In his first season, he ran for 840 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes. The next year, he ran for even more yards, reaching 1,124, and scored 8 touchdowns again.
However, his performance dipped a bit in 1999 and 2000. He ran for fewer yards and touchdowns. After the 2000 season, he left the Bills.
Winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots
In 2001, Smith joined the New England Patriots, and his career really took off! He had a fantastic regular season, running for 1,157 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.
The Patriots then made it to the playoffs. Smith continued to play well, running for 204 yards during their playoff games. The team went all the way to Super Bowl XXXVI and won! A memorable moment for Smith was being the first Patriots player to run onto the field after Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal.
In 2002, Smith ran for 982 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also became more involved in catching passes, with 31 receptions and 2 receiving touchdowns. The 2003 season was his last with the Patriots. He ran for 642 yards and still led the team in rushing. In the playoffs that year, he was outstanding, running for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns. Smith and the Patriots won their second Super Bowl championship, Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Later NFL Teams
After his time with the Patriots, Smith played for the Tennessee Titans in 2004. He ran for 509 yards that season. He then played his final NFL season in 2005 with the New Orleans Saints, where he ran for 659 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Throughout his entire NFL career, Antowain Smith played in 131 games. He ran for a total of 6,881 yards and scored 54 rushing touchdowns. He was a powerful and important player for the teams he played on, especially during the Patriots' Super Bowl wins.
