Riley Smith (American football)

Riley Henry Smith (July 14, 1911 – August 9, 1999) was an American football player, a quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) during the late 1930s. He played college football for the University of Alabama, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American. After his NFL career ended, he became a coach.[1]

Riley Smith
No. 26
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1911-07-14)July 14, 1911
Carrollton, Mississippi
Died:August 9, 1999(1999-08-09) (aged 88)
Mobile, Alabama
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Columbus
(Columbus, Mississippi)
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:1936 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Carries:45
Rushing yards:58
Receptions:18
Receiving yards:300
Passing yards:290
Total touchdowns:8
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR
Riley Smith
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1942–1945
Rank Lieutenant Commander
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

Born in Carrollton, Mississippi, Smith played high school football for Greenwood High School, then moved to Columbus and played at Columbus High School.[2]

College career

Smith attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he played quarterback for the Crimson Tide. He was a passer and runner, but could also block, punt, kick extra points, and boot field goals.[2] He was part of the 1934 team that won the Rose Bowl, was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 1935, and also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference.[2]

Smith played in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.

Professional playing career

Smith was the second player chosen (behind Jay Berwanger) in the first-ever 1936 NFL Draft. In 1936 and 1937 he missed only three minutes in 26 Redskins games, but an injury ended his playing career early.[2]

Coaching career and later life

After retirement as a player, Smith became an assistant coach at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he was the backfield coach in 1939 in 1940, then succeeded Warren E. Tilson as head coach in 1941.[3] He served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander from 1942 to 1945 and then became a real estate developer in Mobile, Alabama.[2]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Washington and Lee Generals (Southern Conference) (1941)
1941 Washington and Lee 1–6–21–2–210th
Washington and Lee: 1–6–21–2–2
Total:1–6–2

References
  1. "Former Tide great Riley Smith, 88, dies". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. August 11, 1999. p. 1C.
  2. "Riley Smith's College Football HOF profile". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  3. "Washington And Lee Puts Smith Into Tilson's Place". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Associated Press. April 21, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
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