THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410130593
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
Junior Smith has been overlooked much of his life, but not because he's so short.
Rather it's because people can be so short-sighted.
East Carolina's 5-foot-6, 180-pound fullback has spent his short lifetime debunking the belief he wasn't big enough or tough enough. He did it in high school, he's done it in college and after this season he hopes to do it in professional football.
Pirates coach Steve Logan said Smith has combined talent, determination and hard work to squelch perceived shortcomings.
``You name it, in the classroom, on the practice field, in the weight room - he does one more repetition than everyone else,'' Logan said. ``He's been told he couldn't his whole life, and he's taken himself to a higher stature.''
Smith's stature at East Carolina is secure. The senior from Fayetteville, N.C., holds Pirate career (3,097 yards), season (1,352) and single-game (282) rushing records.
Last season the Pirates were plundered with injuries to their top two quarterbacks, and Smith was left to shoulder the offensive load. He accounted for 44.6 percent of ECU's offense and was sixth nationally in rushing with 122.9 yards per game.
``After I went down last year, everyone knew he was going to get the ball and they still couldn't stop him,'' Pirates quarterback Marcus Crandell said.
Virginia Tech (5-1) will try to stop Smith at 1:30 p.m. Saturday when the Hokies - ranked 19th by The Associated Press, 14th by USA Today/CNN - play ECU (3-2) at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville. The Hokies, ranked eighth in total defense, haven't seen a back the caliber of Smith yet this year.
Tech coach Frank Beamer said Smith is only 5-6, ``But boy he can scoot.''
Only 5-6. Only 5-6. Only 5-6.
If Smith grew an inch for every time he's been described that way, he'd tower above the Philadelphia 76ers' Shawn Bradley.
Too small in high school? Smith ran for 2,454 yards as a senior, the second-highest total at the time in North Carolina prep history. Despite the gaudy numbers, his college choice came down to Division I-AA Appalachian State or East Carolina.
Too small in college? Smith breezed by Carlester Crumpler Sr.'s Pirate rushing record two weeks ago. With 556 yards through five games this season, it would seem only an injury could prevent Smith from becoming the first Pirate to rush for 1,000 yards three times.
Too short to play in the NFL? Smith answers by clicking off the names Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Dave Meggett and Reggie Brooks - a foursome of NFL mighty-mites. All, however, are slightly taller than Smith.
He is, after all, only 5-6.
``I think it's in people's minds,'' Smith said. ``They've got to find a fault in someone. I just use that for motivation when people talk about my size.
``You have to go out on the field and work a little harder. Whenever someone says a short person can't do it, you have to go out on the field and prove them wrong - show that you can take a hit and block a bigger guy.''
Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni speculated before the Orangemen played ECU that the big guys up front probably enjoyed having Junior in the backfield.
``If I were an offensive lineman, I'd be excited to block for Junior Smith every time I came out of the huddle because that kid's got a lot of heart and speed and he knows how to do something with the ball,'' Pasqualoni said.
Logan said Smith has been timed at 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. ECU's media guide claims Smith won the intramural basketball slam dunk contest.
Wardell Smith Sr. always told his son not to let size impede him in any way, and Junior has obeyed. At times he uses it as an asset.
``I have a pretty big offensive line,'' Smith said. ``I can hide behind them, and if I see a crease I can explode through it before anyone can get a good look at me and get a hit on me.''
Once he's in the open field, Junior Smith cannot be overlooked. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press
[Color Photo]
Junior Smith, a senior fullback from Fayetteville, N.C., holds East
Carolina career (3,097 yards), season (1,352) and single-game (282)
rushing records.
Despite his size, Junior Smith holds several East Carolina rushing
records.
The Smith File
Sixth in nation last year with 122.9 yards per game. Of the five
ranked ahead of him, only Wisconsin's Brent Moss returned this
season.
The Sporting News listed Smith as one of the 10 candidates for
the Doak Walker Award (nation's top junior/senior running back).
Listed 16th among the nation's top backs by The Sporting News'
preseason magazine.
Currently 19th nationally in rushing with 111.2 yards per game.
Has rushed for 130 yards or more in a game 11 times, and 200-plus
twice.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB