Robert Smith (running back) facts for kids
| No. 20, 26 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | March 4, 1972 Euclid, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Euclid | ||||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Robert Scott Smith (born March 4, 1972) is a former American football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Robert played for eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Today, he works as a football analyst for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network.
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Early Life and High School Success
Robert Smith grew up in Euclid, Ohio, a town near Cleveland. He was an amazing football player from a young age. He became the first player to win Ohio's Mr. Football Award twice. He won it in both 1988 and 1989.
In his junior year at Euclid High School, he ran for 1,564 yards. He averaged 8.8 yards every time he carried the ball. He also averaged 31 yards on punt returns. In his senior year (1989), he gained 2,042 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.
During his high school career, Robert rushed for a total of 5,038 yards. He also scored 67 touchdowns. He was even given the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year award.
Track and Field Achievements
Robert was not just good at football. He was also a talented track and field athlete. He had impressive personal best times in sprinting events. He ran the 100 meters in 10.68 seconds. He completed the 200 meters in 21.10 seconds. His best time for the 400 meters was 46.41 seconds.
College Football Career
When it was time for college, Robert chose between several top schools. These included Miami, USC, UCLA, and Ohio State. He decided to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
In his two seasons with the Buckeyes (1990 and 1992), Robert ran for 1,945 yards. He led the team in rushing yards both years. As a freshman in 1990, he had his best year with 1,126 rushing yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns that season.
Taking a Break for Track
Robert took a break from football during the 1991 season. He switched to a track and field scholarship. During this time, he set a personal best in the 100 meters with a time of 10.24 seconds. He considered transferring to other schools to play football. However, his Ohio State coach, John Cooper, kept the door open for him. Robert returned to the Buckeyes' football team in 1992.
Professional Football Career
The Minnesota Vikings chose Robert Smith in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft. He was the 21st player picked overall. His first few seasons were tough because of injuries. He had problems with both his knees and ankles. He also got chicken pox.
Breakthrough and Retirement
Robert finally had a great season in 1997. He rushed for 1,266 yards. His best year in the NFL was in 2000, when he was 28 years old. He led the NFC in rushing with 1,521 yards.
After the 2000 season, doctors told him he needed knee surgery again. This would have been his third knee surgery. On February 6, 2000, Robert decided to retire from football. He chose to leave the game to avoid more serious injuries and to pursue other interests.
Career Statistics and Records
In his eight seasons in the NFL, Robert Smith rushed for 6,818 yards. He scored 32 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 178 passes for 1,292 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. He was known for rarely fumbling the ball, with only nine fumbles in his career.
Robert wore number 20 as a rookie in 1993. He then switched to number 26 in 1994 and wore it until he retired.
Robert holds some impressive records:
- He is second all-time in career rushing yards for the Minnesota Vikings (6,818 yards). Adrian Peterson passed his record in 2012.
- He holds the NFL record for the highest average yards per touchdown run, at 27.2 yards.
After Football: A New Path
Robert Smith retired from the NFL after only eight seasons. He wanted to study medicine and avoid serious injuries. Since retiring, he has mostly lived a private life. He has appeared as a guest on sports shows like Outside the Lines on ESPN. He also works as a college football analyst for Fox Sports.
Today, Robert is the founder and chairman of Fan Huddle. This is an online platform that offers wellness content. It features advice from professional athletes and experts.
Robert also started the Robert Smith Foundation. This charity helps provide support for children's hospitals and cancer research. He even made a small appearance in the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000.
In 2004, Robert wrote a book called The Rest of the Iceberg: An Insider's View on the World of Sport and Celebrity. In his book, he shared his experiences in college and the NFL. He also explained why he retired. He discussed how much people focus on sports stars.
Robert Smith lives in Texas.
