Robert Smith (running back)
Robert Scott Smith (born March 4, 1972) is an American college football analyst for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network. He played professionally as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, and played college football at The Ohio State University. Currently, Smith serves as the Founder/Chairman of Fan Huddle, an on-demand digital wellbeing platform offering content on wellness, mindfulness and healthy living. High school career Born and raised in Euclid, Ohio, a suburb on the northeastern border of Cleveland, Smith became the first player to win Ohio's Mr. Football Award twice (in 1988 and 1989). junior at Euclid High School, he gained 1,564 yards on 177 rushes (8.8 yards per carry) and averaged 31 yards on 10 punt returns. senior season in 1989, he gained 2,042 yards on 203 carries and scored 31 touchdowns and was awarded the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. During his Panthers' career, he rushed for a total of 5,038 yards on 548 carries with 67 touchdowns. College career Smith narrowed his college choices to Miami, USC, UCLA, and Ohio State. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes Smith ran for a total of 1,945 yards, leading the team both years. freshman in 1990, he had a personal-best per game), and rushed for Smith sat out the 1991 football season, switching to a track and field scholarship, and posted a personal-best time of 10.24 seconds in the for He seriously considered transferring to either USC or Stanford in the Pac-10 to play football; Ohio State coach John Cooper had kept the door open for Smith to return to the Buckeyes' football team, and he Professional career Smith was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft, the 21st overall pick. Although he suffered from a number of ailments in his first few seasons, he finally broke through in 1997 with 1,266 yards rushing. Smith's finest year as a pro came in 2000 at age 28, leading the NFC in rushing with 1,521 yards; despite being at the peak of his career, he retired after the season. In eight NFL seasons, Smith rushed for 6,818 yards and 32 touchdowns, along with 178 receptions for 1,292 yards and 6 touchdowns, and only nine fumbles. He also returned 1 punt for 4 yards and 19 kickoffs for a total of 460 yards. Smith wore number 20 as a rookie in 1993, but switched to number 26 when it became available in 1994 and wore it until his retirement. Records NFL Second all-time Minnesota Vikings record for career rushing yards (6,818). Passed by Adrian Peterson on September 9, 2012. The previous record was 5,887; which was set in 1979 by Chuck Foreman. Holds the all-time NFL record for average yards per touchdown run at 27.2 After retirement Smith retired after only eight seasons in the NFL. He walked away from the game to pursue a career