Paul Smith (quarterback)

Paul Smith
	Smith playing for Tulsa in 2007
No. 12
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	July 2, 1984; Owasso, Oklahoma
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Owasso (Owasso, Oklahoma)
College:	Tulsa
Undrafted:	2008
Career history
	Jacksonville Jaguars (2008−2009)*; Montreal Alouettes (2011);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	Liberty Bowl MVP (2005); Second-team All-Conference USA (2006); First-team All-Conference USA (2007); C-USA co-Offensive P.O.Y. (2007); Wuerffel Trophy (2007); GMAC Bowl MVP (2008);
Career NFL statistics
	Player stats at NFL.com
	Player stats at NFL.com

Paul Smith (born July 2, 1984) is an American professional gridiron football quarterback. He played college football at Tulsa.

High school career

Smith attended Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Oklahoma for two years, then finished high school at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. He set a state high school passing record with 9,574 yards in 4 seasons.[1]

College career

Arriving at Tulsa in 2003, Smith played in eight games as a true freshman. He sat out the 2004 season as a redshirt, then became the Golden Hurricane's starting quarterback in 2005. He led Tulsa to a 9-4 record and the Conference USA title.[2] He capped off the 2005 season with a 31-24 win over Fresno State in the 2005 Liberty Bowl (Tulsa's first bowl win since 1991); Smith passed for 234 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for the winning touchdown. Smith was named the game's most valuable player.[3]

In 2006, Smith was tagged as one of Conference USA's top quarterbacks in preseason, along with such players as future Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, and was widely recognized as the leader and face of the Tulsa football program. In Tulsa's scheme, Smith threw many screen passes to running backs Tarrion Adams, Courtney Tennial, and wide receiver Idris Moss. The Golden Hurricane jumped out to a stellar 7-1 start with the inside track on a second straight West Division championship, but the team experienced a breakdown amid turmoil resulting from rumors of teams trying to woo away coach Steve Kragthorpe. Tulsa lost its contest against Utah in the Armed Forces Bowl 25-13, making their season record stand at 8-5.

In 2007, Smith led the Golden Hurricane to a 10-4 record and a win in the 2008 GMAC Bowl while also winning the 2007 Conference USA player of the year award[4] In 2007, Smith won the Wuerffel Trophy which goes to the top humanitarian in college football[5] and was a finalist for the Draddy Trophy. He was also selected to play in the 2008 Cornerstone Hula Bowl, where he passed for 47 yards and ran for the game's first two touchdowns for the winning Aina (East) team.[6]

A three-year starter with the Golden Hurricane, Smith threw a combined 82 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions while taking his team to 3 straight bowl appearances. Smith holds the NCAA record with 14 consecutive games passing for more than 300 yards.[7]

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Smith was not selected in the 2008 NFL Draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 28. Jacksonville immediately waived their third-team quarterback, allowing Smith to take his spot on the scout team.

On July 31, 2008 Smith was waived by the Jaguars. On August 31, Smith was re-signed to the Jaguars' practice squad.[8] He was waived on August 30, 2009 to make room on the roster for Todd Boeckman.

Montreal Alouettes

In October 2009, Smith took a position as assistant chaplain at the University of Tulsa, apparently ending his playing career.[9]

After spending the next year out of football and briefly taking a position as a financial adviser, Smith signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL on February 2, 2011.[1] He was released before training camp by the Alouettes.

References

Mike Brown, "Ex-TU quarterback Paul Smith signs Canadian contract", Tulsa World, February 1, 2011.
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes bio Archived 2007-12-10 at the Wayback Machine for Paul Smith (accessed May 27, 2011).
"Liberty Bowl: Smith's dash for late TD gives Tulsa a 'W'", Associated Press at ESPN.com, December 31, 2005.
KTUL, November 28, 2007. Paul Smith Is CUSA Co-Player of the Year. Accessed January 7, 2008.
Smith Lauded for Service by Eric Bailey, Tulsa World, December 5, 2007.
Smith Starts in Hula Bowl Win by Eric Bailey, Tulsa World, January 10, 2008
Bailey, Eric. "." Tulsa World, January 7, 2008. Tulsa wins No. 10. Accessed January 7, 2008.
"Ex-TU quarterback Paul Smith signs with Jaguars," Tulsa World, August 31, 2008.
Eric Bailey, "Where his heart is: After 18 months in the NFL, former TU quarterback Paul Smith follows his calling back to Tulsa as its assistant chaplain", Tulsa World, December 25, 2009.

External links

Preceded by Kevin Kolb	Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year 2007 (with Kevin Smith)	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Joel Penton	Wuerffel Trophy 2007	Succeeded by Tim Tebow

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[Brown-1] Mike Brown, "Ex-TU quarterback Paul Smith signs Canadian contract", Tulsa World, February 1, 2011.

[2] Tulsa Golden Hurricanes bio Archived 2007-12-10 at the Wayback Machine for Paul Smith (accessed May 27, 2011).

[3] "Liberty Bowl: Smith's dash for late TD gives Tulsa a 'W'", Associated Press at ESPN.com, December 31, 2005.

[4] KTUL, November 28, 2007. Paul Smith Is CUSA Co-Player of the Year. Accessed January 7, 2008.

[5] Smith Lauded for Service by Eric Bailey, Tulsa World, December 5, 2007.

[6] Smith Starts in Hula Bowl Win by Eric Bailey, Tulsa World, January 10, 2008

[7] Bailey, Eric. "." Tulsa World, January 7, 2008. Tulsa wins No. 10. Accessed January 7, 2008.

[8] "Ex-TU quarterback Paul Smith signs with Jaguars," Tulsa World, August 31, 2008.

[9] Eric Bailey, "Where his heart is: After 18 months in the NFL, former TU quarterback Paul Smith follows his calling back to Tulsa as its assistant chaplain", Tulsa World, December 25, 2009.