TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

On A Historic Run

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2007

By now, University of Central Florida junior running back Kevin Smith expects the question. By now, it is practically old news.

But it doesn't make his story any less fascinating.

With Smith's exploits at mind-bending levels - he has become the state's all-time leading collegiate career rusher, and his 2,164 yards represent the fourth-best season ever in Division I-A - there are naturally some raised eyebrows.

Kevin, how did you wind up at UCF?

"It was pretty easy," Smith said. "UCF was the only program that recruited me to play running back."

The only program.

Knights coach George O'Leary, who generally scoffs at the battery of Internet-driven recruiting rankings, sensed a gem in Smith, who was moved from the backfield and played only safety as a senior at Miami's Southridge High School.

And the rest, as they say, is college football history.

Literally.

Smith will be on display Saturday afternoon when the Knights (9-3) face Tulsa (9-3) in the Conference USA Championship Game at UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium. UCF, seeking the first league title in school history but already assured of a postseason spot, can earn a Liberty Bowl bid.

That means two more opportunities for Smith to boost his rushing statistics. By just maintaining his 180.33 average on Saturday, Smith will pass Arkansas' Darren McFadden (2,185 yards in 2006) and USC's Marcus Allen (2,342 in 1981), vaulting into the No. 2 spot for single-season rushing.

Still out there - make that way out there - is Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (2,628 yards in 1988). But conceivably, Smith could also pass Sanders in UCF's bowl game.

Sanders and Allen won the Heisman Trophy.

McFadden finished second.

Smith, a 6-foot-1, 211-pounder who is also the nation's leading scorer (26 touchdowns), probably won't even sniff an invitation to Tim Tebow's probable Heisman coronation next weekend in New York.

"I think Kevin Smith is a first-round draft pick," Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. "He's the best I've seen in a long, long time.

"It just shows you that none of us have this thing recruiting down to a science. If you just recruit off lists and rankings, you're going to miss the boat on a guy like that."

USF is the only team to shut down Smith, limiting him to 55 yards on 18 carries in the Bulls' 64-12 victory on Oct. 13 at Raymond James Stadium. Since then, the Knights have been unbeatable, winning six straight games.

And Smith has been practically unstoppable, averaging 208.2 yards in those six games with 14 rushing touchdowns.

"What has impressed me the most with Kevin is his humility," O'Leary said. "Like most smart running backs, he has continually given praise to his offensive line. A lot of times when kids get notoriety, they forget why they got it. Kevin hasn't done that. For him, it's a team game.

"He just has things you don't teach. Great vision. Redirection skills. Sets up his blocks. Explodes through the hole. Accelerates in the open field. Catches the ball well. Blocks. This season, he has done it all."

And he's not done yet.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT