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Smith On Verge Of History
10/23/2019 8:16:00 AM | Football
Gopher running back Rodney Smith is closing in on all-purpose yards record
Records are made to be broken and Rodney Smith is on the verge of breaking a significant one.
Smith enters Saturday's game against Maryland with 5,014 career all-purpose yards and is just 95 yards shy of a tying Gopher great Darrell Thompson for the most in school history. Thompson totaled 5,109 career all-purpose yards in 45 games from 1986-89.
Smith, who has played in 46 career games, has 3,745 rushing yards 509 receiving yards and 760 kick return yards.
He totaled 237 all-purpose yards against Illinois this year and now has three games in his career with at least 237 all-purpose yards, as he totaled 279 yards against Nebraska in 2017 and 257 against Rutgers in 2016. Smith is one of four players – joining Tutu Atwell, Tellis Redmon and Chris Darkins – in school history to have three games with at least 237 all-purpose yards, but is the only player to do so against three Big Ten teams
Smith leads Minnesota and ranks ninth in the NCAA this year with 786 rushing yards. He also has 97 kick return yards and 58 receiving yards this year for a total of 941 all-purpose yards this year.
Smith has rushed 788 career times for Minnesota, which is the third most in school history. He has 3,745 career rushing yards, which also ranks him third.
He has also caught 63 career passes, which ranks fourth in school history for a running back. Smith's 509 career receiving yards places him just outside of the top five all-time for a Gopher running back (Thomas Hamner is fifth with 553).
Thompson, who played at Minnesota from 1986-89, picked up 4,654 of his 5,109 yards on the ground. He added 341 receiving yards and notched 114 kick return yards during his freshman season.
Thompson is the only Gopher ever to rush for 4,000 career yards, but Smith needs only 255 rushing yards to join him in that elusive club. Smith has rushed for 576 yards in his last four games, surpassing 100 rushing yards in each game. Only five Gophers – Laurence Maroney (twice), Amir Pinnix, Paul Giel and Hamner – have rushed for 100 yards in five games or more. Maroney had streaks of seven and six games, while Pinnix, Giel and Hamner each rushed for more than 100 yards in five straight games.
Smith enters Saturday's game against Maryland with 5,014 career all-purpose yards and is just 95 yards shy of a tying Gopher great Darrell Thompson for the most in school history. Thompson totaled 5,109 career all-purpose yards in 45 games from 1986-89.
Smith, who has played in 46 career games, has 3,745 rushing yards 509 receiving yards and 760 kick return yards.
He totaled 237 all-purpose yards against Illinois this year and now has three games in his career with at least 237 all-purpose yards, as he totaled 279 yards against Nebraska in 2017 and 257 against Rutgers in 2016. Smith is one of four players – joining Tutu Atwell, Tellis Redmon and Chris Darkins – in school history to have three games with at least 237 all-purpose yards, but is the only player to do so against three Big Ten teams
Smith leads Minnesota and ranks ninth in the NCAA this year with 786 rushing yards. He also has 97 kick return yards and 58 receiving yards this year for a total of 941 all-purpose yards this year.
Smith has rushed 788 career times for Minnesota, which is the third most in school history. He has 3,745 career rushing yards, which also ranks him third.
He has also caught 63 career passes, which ranks fourth in school history for a running back. Smith's 509 career receiving yards places him just outside of the top five all-time for a Gopher running back (Thomas Hamner is fifth with 553).
Thompson, who played at Minnesota from 1986-89, picked up 4,654 of his 5,109 yards on the ground. He added 341 receiving yards and notched 114 kick return yards during his freshman season.
Thompson is the only Gopher ever to rush for 4,000 career yards, but Smith needs only 255 rushing yards to join him in that elusive club. Smith has rushed for 576 yards in his last four games, surpassing 100 rushing yards in each game. Only five Gophers – Laurence Maroney (twice), Amir Pinnix, Paul Giel and Hamner – have rushed for 100 yards in five games or more. Maroney had streaks of seven and six games, while Pinnix, Giel and Hamner each rushed for more than 100 yards in five straight games.
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