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Vitamin Smith
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Verda T. "Vitamin" Smith Jr. (October 30, 1923 – February 14, 2000) was a National Football League (NFL) running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949 through 1953.
Key Information
Smith served in the United States Army and participated in the Battle of Normandy before enrolling at Abilene Christian University where he sprinted, threw javelin and played college football for the Wildcats.[1] In the NFL, Smith was a return specialist. In 1950, he set a record by returning three kicks for touchdowns in a single season. That record would stand until 1967.[2]
Verda T. Smith married Myra Pearce, daughter of Mr. and Mr.s Herman F. Pearce, in Ventura, California on August 15, 1946. He was a student at Abilene Christian College at the time.[3]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the NFL championship | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1949 | RAM | 12 | 4 | 40 | 117 | 2.9 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 63 | 12.6 | 24 | 1 |
| 1950 | RAM | 12 | 4 | 51 | 250 | 4.9 | 25 | 1 | 16 | 279 | 17.4 | 67 | 4 |
| 1951 | RAM | 12 | 9 | 52 | 143 | 2.8 | 31 | 1 | 16 | 278 | 17.4 | 67 | 1 |
| 1952 | RAM | 12 | 10 | 57 | 133 | 2.3 | 20 | 3 | 16 | 254 | 15.9 | 56 | 3 |
| 1953 | RAM | 11 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 3.3 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 151 | 25.2 | 54 | 3 |
| 59 | 30 | 208 | 669 | 3.2 | 31 | 7 | 59 | 1,025 | 17.4 | 67 | 12 | ||
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1949 | RAM | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 1.8 | - | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | - | 0 |
| 1950 | RAM | 2 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 3.3 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 81 | 20.3 | 38 | 0 |
| 1951 | RAM | 1 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 1.7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 18 | 0 |
| 1952 | RAM | 1 | 1 | 4 | -8 | -2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | 26 | 41 | 1.6 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 110 | 15.7 | 38 | 0 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Hadfield, Ron (February 3, 2016). "Wildcats are witnesses to NFL title history". ACU Today. Abilene Christian University. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- ^ "Standout Ram Kick Returner Vitamin T. Smith Dead at 76". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 16, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- ^ "Ventura County Star 17 Aug 1946, page 3 - Newspapers.com". Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
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