He accepted a football scholarship from Hampton University. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 10 games, registering 31 receptions (tied for the team lead) for 429 yards, 4 touchdowns and a 13-yard average per punt return. The next year, he led the team with 47 receptions for 816 yards (17.4-yard avg.) and 5 touchdowns.
As a junior, he registered 58 receptions (led the team) for 732 yards, 6 touchdowns and a 17.7-yard average per punt return, including 4 touchdown returns. He also tied an NCAADivision I-AA record with 3 punt returns for touchdowns in one game (Hampton vs. Virginia State University, September 22, 2001).[1] In that same game, his teammate Terrance Patrick returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns.
As a senior, he posted 53 receptions (led the team) for 773 yards (14.6-yard avg.), 6 touchdowns and an 18.5-yard average per punt return, including one touchdown return.
In 2002, he graduated with a BS in Biology, leaving as the school's All-time leader in receptions (189) and punt returns yards (1,145). He also had the record for receptions in a season (58) and in a single-game (13 - Hampton vs. South Carolina State University, 2001).
In his NFL debut playing on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants on September 15, he returned five kickoffs for 120 yards and also returned four punts. But his best play came with 11 seconds left in the game, after he let a Matt Bryant kickoff roll out of bounds, just inches from the end zone. The penalty gave the Cowboys the ball at their own 40 yard-line with no time off the clock, and allowed them to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime (35-32).[3][4]
^Lilly, Brandon (23 September 2001). "Hampton Rides Its Special Teams to a Rout of Virginia State". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^"Hu's Leg Work Leads Cowboys To Draft Smith". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^"MNF moments, No. 37: A Giant mistake". 2 August 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^"Many Happy Returns For Smith To New York". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^"Transactions". The New York Times. 30 August 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^"Patriots Sign WR Zuriel Smith". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
External links
New England Patriots bio
February 13, 2023
zuriel, smith, born, january, 1980, richmond, virginia, former, american, football, wide, receiver, return, specialist, national, football, league, dallas, cowboys, england, patriots, played, college, football, hampton, university, 87position, wide, receiverre. Zuriel Smith born January 15 1980 in Richmond Virginia is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots He played college football at Hampton University Zuriel SmithNo 87Position Wide receiverReturn specialistPersonal informationBorn 1980 01 15 January 15 1980 age 43 Richmond VirginiaHeight 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Weight 184 lb 83 kg Career informationHigh school Mechanicsville VA AtleeCollege HamptonNFL Draft 2003 Round 6 Pick 186Career historyDallas Cowboys 2003 New York Giants 2005 New England Patriots 2006 Rhein Fire 2006 Offseason and or practice squad member onlyCareer highlights and awardsPFWA All Rookie Team 2003 Pro Football Weekly All rookie team 2003 AFCA All American 2002 All MEAC 2001 2002 Career NFL statisticsGames played 9Receptions 3Yards 46Average 15 3Player stats at NFL com PFR Contents 1 Early years 2 Professional career 2 1 Dallas Cowboys 2 2 New York Giants 2 3 New England Patriots 3 References 4 External linksEarly years EditSmith attended Atlee High School in Mechanicsville Virginia where he practiced football track and basketball He began playing football until his junior year He was a standout in track receiving All state honors three times in the long jump high jump and triple jump He accepted a football scholarship from Hampton University As a redshirt freshman he appeared in 10 games registering 31 receptions tied for the team lead for 429 yards 4 touchdowns and a 13 yard average per punt return The next year he led the team with 47 receptions for 816 yards 17 4 yard avg and 5 touchdowns As a junior he registered 58 receptions led the team for 732 yards 6 touchdowns and a 17 7 yard average per punt return including 4 touchdown returns He also tied an NCAA Division I AA record with 3 punt returns for touchdowns in one game Hampton vs Virginia State University September 22 2001 1 In that same game his teammate Terrance Patrick returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns As a senior he posted 53 receptions led the team for 773 yards 14 6 yard avg 6 touchdowns and an 18 5 yard average per punt return including one touchdown return In 2002 he graduated with a BS in Biology leaving as the school s All time leader in receptions 189 and punt returns yards 1 145 He also had the record for receptions in a season 58 and in a single game 13 Hampton vs South Carolina State University 2001 Professional career EditDallas Cowboys Edit Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round 186th overall of the 2003 NFL Draft to upgrade the return game of the special teams units 2 In his NFL debut playing on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants on September 15 he returned five kickoffs for 120 yards and also returned four punts But his best play came with 11 seconds left in the game after he let a Matt Bryant kickoff roll out of bounds just inches from the end zone The penalty gave the Cowboys the ball at their own 40 yard line with no time off the clock and allowed them to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime 35 32 3 4 In 2003 he led all NFC rookies in punt return average 7 1 yards earning Pro Football Weekly s All rookie honors as a return specialist Smith was waived on September 5 2004 After being out of football for a year he was re signed on January 13 2005 and released on August 17 New York Giants Edit On August 18 2005 he was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants and later cut on August 29 5 New England Patriots Edit On February 10 2006 he signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots and was allocated to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe 6 He was injured and placed on the NFL Europe reserve list He was released on February 13 2007 References Edit Lilly Brandon 23 September 2001 Hampton Rides Its Special Teams to a Rout of Virginia State The New York Times Retrieved February 19 2017 Hu s Leg Work Leads Cowboys To Draft Smith Retrieved February 19 2017 MNF moments No 37 A Giant mistake 2 August 2014 Retrieved February 19 2017 Many Happy Returns For Smith To New York Retrieved February 19 2017 Transactions The New York Times 30 August 2005 Retrieved February 19 2017 Patriots Sign WR Zuriel Smith Retrieved February 19 2017 External links EditNew England Patriots bio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zuriel Smith amp oldid 1122126529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
