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Bucs' Clifton Smith Earns Monthly NFC Honor

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TBO.com

Published: December 4, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs' Clifton Smith was named NFC special teams player of the month for November, the team and NFL announced Thursday.

During November, Smith had 11 punt returns for 199 yards and one touchdown. He also registered 16 kickoff returns for 498 yards and one touchdown. Smith's punt return average of 18.1 yards ranks first in the NFL, and his 31.1 yard kickoff return average ranks second. He is the only player in the NFL to have a kickoff and punt return for touchdowns this season.

On Nov. 2 in Kansas City, Smith became the second player in team history to return a kickoff. His 97-yard return was also the longest kickoff return in team history, and his 259 total return yards (232 kickoff return yards, 27 punt return yards) set a franchise single-game record.

Smith had four punt returns for 90 yards, including a touchdown, and five kickoff returns for 142 yards, including a long of 49 yards at Detroit on Nov. 23. His 70-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first by a Buc since 2004.

Smith, a 5-foot-8, 190-pound running back, was added to the Bucs' roster from the practice squad on Oct. 25. The 23-year-old is a free-agent signee from Fresno State.

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