Joe Smith (running back) facts for kids
| Born: | August 26, 1979 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Retired |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | RB |
| College | Louisiana Tech |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2003 | Jacksonville Jaguars* (NFL) |
| 2004 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers* (NFL) |
| 2004 | New Orleans Saints* (NFL) |
| 2005 | Tennessee Titans* (NFL) |
| 2005 | Rhein Fire (NFLE) |
| 2006–2008 | BC Lions (CFL) |
| 2008 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL All-Star | 2007 |
| CFL West All-Star | 2007 |
| Awards | 2007 Eddie James Memorial Trophy |
Joseph O'Brien Smith, born on August 26, 1979, is a former American football player. He was a professional running back in the CFL. In 2007, during only his second season, he set a new record for the BC Lions. He became their all-time single-season rushing leader. He broke the old record by running for over 1,510 yards!
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Joe Smith's College Football Journey
Joe Smith was born in Monroe, Louisiana. His hometown is Cleveland, Texas. He played college football at Louisiana Tech. He was a running back there for two years. Before that, he played at the New Mexico Military Institute.
At Louisiana Tech, he ran for an amazing 2,189 yards. He also caught passes for 450 yards. He scored 25 touchdowns in total. In his final year, he was chosen for the All-Western Athletic Conference team. He was also named the offensive MVP. Joe graduated from Louisiana Tech. He earned a degree in sociology.
Playing Pro Football
Starting in the NFL
After college, Joe Smith began his professional football career. In 2003, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a free agent running back. He spent 15 weeks on their practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team. They can be called up to play if needed.
In 2005, Joe left the Jaguars. He had a short time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, he signed with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans sent him to the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa. There, he became the team's main running back.
Amazing CFL Career
Joe Smith signed with the BC Lions in May 2006. He joined them as a free agent. He took over as the team's starting running back in July. This happened after another player, Antonio Warren, left the team.
In 14 games during the 2006 CFL season, Joe ran 166 times. He gained 887 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. He only fumbled the ball twice. He also caught 51 passes for 420 yards and one touchdown.
Winning the Grey Cup
Joe played a big part in the 2006 Grey Cup game. He rushed for 116 yards on 9 carries. The Lions won the game against the Montreal Alouettes. The final score was 25–14.
Breaking Records in 2007
During the 2007 CFL season, Joe Smith made history. He broke a long-standing record for the BC Lions. On October 28, in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he surpassed 1,510 rushing yards. This broke the record set by former Lion great Cory Philpot.
Joe finished the 2007 season as the CFL's top rusher. He had 1,510 rushing yards. He also led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns. For his amazing performance, he was named a CFL All-Star. He also won the Western Division's Eddie James Memorial Trophy. This award is given to the Western Division's leading rusher.
Moving to Winnipeg
On September 1, 2008, Joe Smith was traded. He moved to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In return, the Lions received another running back, Charles Roberts. Joe was released by Winnipeg on June 25, 2009.
