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Smith Vaults into Record Book
10/30/2019 11:30:00 AM | Football
Rodney Smith is Minnesota's all-time purpose yards leader
University of Minnesota running back Rodney Smith vaulted to the top of the record books last Saturday with a 1-yard touchdown plunge against Maryland.
The touchdown, which was the 28th rushing score of Smith's career, pushed Smith past Gopher legend Darrell Thompson for the most all-purpose yards in school history. Smith, who entered the Maryland game 95 yards shy of tying Thompson's mark of 5,109 yards, finished the game with 103 yards and is the new Minnesota standard with 5,117 all-purpose yards.
Smith is one of the most versatile players in school history, as he has 3,848 career rushing yards, 509 receiving yards and 760 kick return yards.
The Georgia native has played in 47 career games and ranks third in school history in rushing yards behind Thompson (4,654) and Laurence Maroney (3,933) with 3,848 yards. Smith is 85 yards away from tying Maroney and 152 yards away from joining Thompson as the only Gophers to rush for 4,000 career yards.
Smith has rushed for 100 yards in five straight games, which is tied for the third longest streak in school history and is the longest streak since Amir Pinnix rushed for 100 yards in five straight games during the 2006-07 seasons.
His 28 career rushing touchdowns rank sixth in school history and his 63 career receptions rank fourth all-time for a Minnesota running back. Smith's 509 career receiving yards places him just outside the top five for a running back. Smith's career kick return average of 27.1 yards ranks first in school history for anyone with a minimum of 20 career returns.
The touchdown, which was the 28th rushing score of Smith's career, pushed Smith past Gopher legend Darrell Thompson for the most all-purpose yards in school history. Smith, who entered the Maryland game 95 yards shy of tying Thompson's mark of 5,109 yards, finished the game with 103 yards and is the new Minnesota standard with 5,117 all-purpose yards.
Smith is one of the most versatile players in school history, as he has 3,848 career rushing yards, 509 receiving yards and 760 kick return yards.
The Georgia native has played in 47 career games and ranks third in school history in rushing yards behind Thompson (4,654) and Laurence Maroney (3,933) with 3,848 yards. Smith is 85 yards away from tying Maroney and 152 yards away from joining Thompson as the only Gophers to rush for 4,000 career yards.
Smith has rushed for 100 yards in five straight games, which is tied for the third longest streak in school history and is the longest streak since Amir Pinnix rushed for 100 yards in five straight games during the 2006-07 seasons.
His 28 career rushing touchdowns rank sixth in school history and his 63 career receptions rank fourth all-time for a Minnesota running back. Smith's 509 career receiving yards places him just outside the top five for a running back. Smith's career kick return average of 27.1 yards ranks first in school history for anyone with a minimum of 20 career returns.
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