Bio

Antowain Smith’s delayed start to a productive playing career in
the NFL began at East Mississippi Community College. Having not
played prep football until his senior year at Stanhope Elmore High
School in Millbrook, Ala., Smith turned down college scholarships
in order to care for his ailing grandparents. For three years after
his high school graduation, the devoted grandson worked a factory
job dyeing clothes to help pay for their medical bills. Following his
grandmother’s death, Smith fulfilled his promise of returning to
school by joining EMCC’s football team in 1993.
Smith blossomed as a sophomore running back for head coach Tom
Goode’s Lions, finishing third in the state with 1,013 rushing yards
to earn NJCAA All-American honorable mention honors as the
Region 23 Most Valuable Offensive Back. Smith then transferred
to the University of Houston, where he rushed for 1,847 career yards and 19 touchdowns. The 6’2”, 235-pound
feature back gained the attention of NFL scouts as a senior by claiming Conference USA Offensive Player of the
Year accolades after rushing for 1,239 yards and a school-record 14 touchdowns. As a consensus Conference
USA First Team selection in 1996, Smith also earned honorable mention All-American recognition by Football
News.
Selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft as the 23rd pick overall by the Buffalo Bills, Smith spent four
seasons with the Bills before being signed by the New England Patriots in 2001. He made an immediate impact
with the Pats by setting personal single-season marks with 1,157 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns as a
member of the Super Bowl XXXVI championship team. Smith collected another Super Bowl ring two years later
in his third and final season in New England. His nine-year NFL career concluded with one-year stints with the
Tennessee Titans (2004) and New Orleans Saints (2005). During his NFL career, Smith rushed for 6,881 yards
and 54 touchdowns, while adding 136 career receptions for 982 yards and three scores.