Keith Smith (fullback)

Alton Keith Smith Jr. (born April 8, 1992) is an American football fullback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Jose State University.

Keith Smith
Smith at the Dallas Cowboys training camp in August 2015
No. 40 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1992-04-08) April 8, 1992
Pomona, California
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Charter Oak
(Covina, California)
College:San Jose State
Undrafted:2014
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2019
Rushing attempts:8
Rushing yards:13
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:82
Total touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Born in Pomona, California, Smith graduated from Charter Oak High School, where he played high school football, in Covina in 2010.[1] Smith began playing football in the fourth grade.[2] At the age of 11, Smith met Indianapolis Colts cornerback and Charter Oak graduate Jason David, who was dating Smith's older sister.[3] David commented about Smith: "...he was so eager for knowledge, he was so eager to get better, he was willing to do whatever it took. He studied film, worked out on weekends and got better and better."[4] Smith is now David's brother-in-law.[3]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
Keith Smith
LB		 Covina, CA Charter Oak HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 4.9 Jan 19, 2010 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 60 (MLB), 76 (school)   Rivals: 101 (school)  ESPN: 69 (ILB), 180 (CA)
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2010 San Jose St. Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  • "2010 San Jose State College Football Recruiting Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  • "San Jose State Spartans 2010 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  • "2010 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.

    College career

    Smith attended San Jose State University and played for the San Jose State Spartans football team from 2010 to 2013 as an inside linebacker.[3] In 49 games, Smith made 45 starts and had 476 total tackles, the second most among all-time San Jose State players.[1] In addition, he had 29 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles.[1] Smith played under head coach Mike MacIntyre from 2010 to 2012 and Ron Caragher in 2013.[1]

    As a freshman in 2010, Smith played in all 13 games and started the last nine. With 116 tackles and 14 tackles for loss, Smith led all freshmen in NCAA Division I FBS in those categories. Smith earned Academic All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC), FWAA Freshman All-America, second-team All-WAC, and San Jose State Scholar-Athlete honors this season.[1] However, San Jose State finished the season 1-12.

    In 2011, San Jose State improved to a 5-7 record. Smith had the most on average tackles per game this year with 6 tackles per game; he had 104 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. For the second year in a row, Smith earned second-team All-WAC honors.[1]

    As a junior in 2012, Smith had 97 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and eight passes defended. Smith made his first interception on October 27 against Texas State.[1] On November 17 against BYU, Smith matched a career single-game high with 19 tackles and added two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one sack, and a pass deflection.[1] With 1:16 left in the game against BYU, Smith hurdled over a BYU blocker and sacked BYU quarterback Riley Nelson on Nelson's blind side and also forced a fumble. San Jose State recovered the fumble and sealed the 20-14 victory. For this game-ending play, Smith won WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.[5][6] San Jose State ended the season 11-2 by beating Bowling Green in the 2012 Military Bowl 29-20. With 4:22 remaining and San Jose State up 22-20, Smith recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Travis Johnson, and San Jose State advanced the ball in two minutes for a touchdown.[7]

    As a senior in 2013, Smith had 159 tackles and 13.3 tackles per game—both the most among all FBS players this season—along with eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one pass defended. Smith reached new career records, with two games with at least 20 tackles, on September 21 against Minnesota and September 27 against Utah State.[1] In the San Jose State regular season finale on November 29, a 62-52 win over #16 Fresno State, Smith intercepted a pass by Derek Carr and ended Carr's streak of 305 passes without an interception.[8] Despite bowl eligibility with a 6-6 record, San Jose State was not selected for a bowl. Smith graduated from San Jose State with a B.A. in communication studies in December 2013.[9][10]

    Professional career
    Pre-draft measurables
    HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
    6 ft 0 in
    (1.83 m)    		 233 lb
    (106 kg)    		 4.98 s1.76 s2.87 s4.53 s6.87 s31 in
    (0.79 m)    		9 ft 5 in
    (2.87 m)    		26 reps
    Measurements taken at San Jose State's Pro Day.[11]

    2014 season

    Smith signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2014.[12][13][14] Multiple injuries on the linebacker corps forced the team to sign him to the active roster for depth purposes on September 20.[15] Smith made his NFL debut in the Cowboys' 34–31 season-opening win over the St. Louis Rams.[16] He lined up with the defense in a play where the Cowboys stopped the Rams on a 4th-and-inches in the third quarter.[17] He was waived the following day and signed to the practice squad. On October 4, he was promoted to the roster and released two days later. On October 18, he was promoted to the active roster and was later released on November 14. He remained on the roster after being added again on November 26, 2014.[18][19] Smith finished his rookie season with ten game appearances but did not record a statistic.

    2015 season

    On May 14, 2015, Smith was released after rookie minicamp to make room for free agent safety Danny McCray.[20] He was re-signed on July 31, a day after linebacker Keith Rivers announced his retirement.[21] He made the team because of his special teams ability and appeared in four games until being released on October 5, to make room for a suspended Rolando McClain.[22] On October 7, he was re-signed to the Cowboys' practice squad.[23] On November 14, he was elevated to the active squad for depth purposes while linebacker Sean Lee was out with a concussion. Smith then played on November 15 against Tampa Bay. On November 16, he was waived to make room for linebacker Mark Nzeocha. On November 18, he was re-signed to the practice squad.

    At the end of the 2015 season, at his exit meeting with head coach Jason Garrett, Smith was told he was being converted into a fullback based on his work with the scout team, in order to give him a better chance to make the roster.[24]

    2016 season

    After the team chose not to re-sign Tyler Clutts, he entered OTAs competing with Rod Smith for the starting position. Although they both made the team, Keith was named the starting fullback at the end of training camp.[25] Smith had his first career carry for a three-yard gain in the Cowboys' season-opening loss to the New York Giants. The next game, he made his first career reception on a five-yard pass from quarterback Dak Prescott during a 27–23 victory over the Washington Redskins. On October 2, Smith had one rushing attempt for a two-yard gain and caught one pass for a 14-yard gain in a 24–17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. On January 1, 2017, he earned his first career start during a 27–14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He contributed to rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott winning the NFL rushing title, while finishing his first season as a fullback with two carries for five-yards and three receptions for 20 receiving yards in 16 games and one start.[26] He also was a core special teams player.

    2017 season

    Smith remained as the team´s starting fullback, playing in 16 games, while blocking for Elliott and Alfred Morris. He was tied for the team lead with 10 special teams tackles and also forced 2 fumbles.

    He entered the 2018 offseason as a restricted free agent. The Cowboys gambled by not extending him a tender offer, looking to bring him back at a lower salary.[27]

    Oakland Raiders

    On March 15, 2018, Smith signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders, reuniting with Rich Bisaccia who was his special teams coach with the Cowboys.[28]

    On August 31, 2019, Smith was released by the Raiders.[29]

    Atlanta Falcons

    On September 2, 2019, Smith was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.[30] He appeared in all 16 games, of which he started five, in the 2019 season.[31]

    On March 14, 2020, Smith signed a three-year contract extension with the Falcons.[32] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Falcons on July 29, 2020.[33] He was activated on August 15, 2020.[34]

    References
    1. "Keith Smith". San Jose State Spartans. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    2. GetSportsFocus (May 4, 2014). "#31 Keith Smith, LB, SJSU: GSF Exclusive Feature". YouTube. Retrieved June 25, 2014. See 2:40 mark for when Smith started playing football.
    3. Pimentel, Joseph (April 17, 2014). "Former NFL player flexes experience to help athletes train". Los Angeles Register. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
    4. Adelson, Andrea (May 6, 2011). "Keith Smith emerges as top-notch LB". ESPN. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
    5. Durkin, Jimmy (November 19, 2012). "San Jose State's Keith Smith earns WAC honor". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    6. "Riley Nelson sacked by Keith Smith for a loss of 9 yards, fumbled, forced by Keith Smith, recovered by SJSt Vince Buhagiar at the SJSt 36". ESPN. November 17, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
    7. Durkin, Jimmy (December 28, 2012). "San Jose State Spartans win Military Bowl 29-20". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    8. Durkin, Jimmy (November 30, 2013). "San Jose State stuns Fresno State 62-52". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    9. "Keith Smith" (PDF). Dallas Cowboys 2014 Media Guide. p. 195.
    10. Instagram post on May 24, 2014 by Smith. Includes "3.5Years" as a hashtag.
    11. "Keith Smith, DS #38 ILB, San Jose State". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    12. George, Brandon (May 11, 2014). "Dallas Cowboys bring in 23 undrafted free agents as rookie mini-camp approaches". SportsDayDFW. Dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    13. "Keith Smith". Dallas Cowboys. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
    14. "Chandler Jones & Keith Smith 1st Free Agent Signings". San Jose State Spartans. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014. He is slated to begin his professional career as an outside linebacker with Dallas.
    15. Eatman, Nick. "LB Keith Smith Signed Off Practice Squad; DE Cut". Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
    16. "Keith Smith Game Log, 2014". NFL. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
    17. 1:45 of video Week 3: Cowboys vs. Rams highlights
    18. Davison, Drew (September 22, 2014). "Cowboys notes: Despite big play, Claiborne might get benched". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
    19. "Keith Smith Yo-Yos Back To The Active Roster; Jack Crawford Sent To IR". November 26, 2014.
    20. Sabin, Rainier (May 14, 2015). "Dallas Cowboys bring back S Danny McCray, sign seventh-round pick Geoff Swaim". Dallas Cowboys Blog. DallasNews.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
    21. Broaddus, Bryan. "Scout's Notebook: Keith Smith Returns, Notes From Friday Morning Walkthrough". Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
    22. Phillips, Rob (October 5, 2015). "2 Players Waived To Help Make Room For Return Of Hardy, R. McClain". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
    23. Brandon George [@@DMN_George] (October 7, 2015). "The Cowboys have signed LB Keith Smith to their practice squad after releasing him Monday. Replaces DE Efe Obada" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    24. Davison, Drew (May 7, 2016). "Cowboys shift Keith Smith from linebacker to fullback". ESPN. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
    25. "Ourlads.com: Dallas Cowboy's Depth Chart". ourlads.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
    26. "NFL Player Profile: Keith Smith". NFL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
    27. "Cowboys won't tender Keith Smith but want fullback to return in 2018". ESPN.com. March 15, 2018.
    28. "Raiders Sign Fullback Keith Smith". Raiders.com. March 15, 2018.
    29. "Raiders announce transactions - 8.31.19". Raiders.com. August 31, 2019.
    30. "Falcons add two practice squad players and fullback, Ricky Ortiz waived". Atlantafalcons.com. September 2, 2019.
    31. "Keith Smith 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
    32. McFadden, Will (March 14, 2020). "Falcons agree to terms with Keith Smith on three-year extension". AtlantaFalcons.com.
    33. McFadden, Will (July 29, 2020). "Falcons place Keith Smith and Jamal Carter on reserve/COVID-19 list". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
    34. Tabeek, Matthew (August 15, 2020). "Falcons activate Keith Smith from reserve/COVID-19 list". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
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