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• Complete Bio/Career Stats (PDF)
NEW MEXICO:Former tailback who was one of the top wide receivers in the nation in a breakthrough 2007 season...an Honorable Mention all-MWC pick and his teammates' choice for Most Improved Player as a first year starter in 2006, he was easily the league's most productive pass catcher in 2007 en route to first team all-conference honors for the first time in his career...came into his own over his final 2 seasons as he began to master all of the techniques involved at the position...was one of the most explosive players in the MWC, boasting elite speed in the open field...had 67 plays of 20 yards or more in his career (34 receiving, 1 rushing)...was also the most powerful receiver on the team, putting up 355 in the bench, 308 in the power clean and 445 in the squat...developed into a mature team leader and was voted offensive team captain, along with fellow WR Travis Brown, in `07...a key member of the offense since 2004, but was used more as a ball carrier in his first two seasons...moved over from tailback midway through his redshirt season in 2003 and made an immediate impact on the practice field...was voted Most Valuable Offensive Scout by his teammates following the `03 season...also a standout special teams player throughout his 49-game career...26 tackles (22 solo) and a fumble recovery on kick/punt coverage...19.9-yard average on 68 kickoff returns...finished his career ranked 6th all-time at UNM with 3,749 career all-purpose yards (2,073receiving, 323 rushing, 1,353 kick returns), averaging 76.5/game...19 games over 100 yards all-purpose...ranked among the top-10 all-time at UNM in receptions (153 - 4th), receiving yardage (2,073 - 7th) and receiving TDs (13 - t7th)...closed his career with a catch in 27 consecutive games...placed sixth for UNM in the 200 meters at the 2005 MWC Outdoor Track Championships...he and former USC Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush were two of the top sprinters in the San Diego area during their prep careers with each earning head-to-head victories over the other during their track rivalry...Smith is also an avid snowboarder and longboarder, and also a frequent paintball player.2007 (SENIOR): First team all-MWC selection who enjoyed a career year as he and fellow first team pick Travis Brown established themselves as the premier wide receivers in the Mountain West Conference and the best tandem in UNM history...was the most productive WR in the Mountain West in 2007, leading in both catches and receiving yards throughout the season...ranked just ahead of Brown, with a school record 91 receptions (7.0/game - t15th nationally) for 1,125 yards (86.5/game)...passed Lobo great Terance Mathis' (88 in 1989) on the single season reception list and finished 5th on the UNM single-season yardage list...7th Lobo over 1,000 yards receiving...posted the 4th-highest yardage total and tied for 3rd in receptions on the MWC all-time lists...long of 66 and 4 TDs along with a number of highlight reel grabs...3 100-yard receiving games...also had a rushing TD and was a tremendous blocker downfield...averaged a career-best 23.3 yards on 28 kickoff returns, including a long of 82 - the best by a Lobo since 1998...was 3rd in the MWC, averaging 139.2 all-purpose yards/game (1,809 total - 4th on UNM single season list)...over 100 all-purpose yards in 10 games, including 8 straight to end his career...went over 200 yards all-purpose against Arizona (213) and UNLV (263)...led the team with 37 plays of 20+ yards this year (19 receiving) and had 3 of the 4 longest plays of the year for the Lobos...50 of his 91 catches went for 1st downs or TDs...came up big in clutch situations, catching 26 passes on 3rd or 4th down, resulting in 18 1st downs and 2 TDs...nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award for his perseverance on and off the field despite the utimely death of his mother, Sheila, on Sept. 16 following his sensational performance in the Lobos' road win at Arizona.
`07 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. UNLV...Dominant performance on a frigid afternoon...racked up a career-high 263 all-purpose yards on 11 touches (23.9 avg.), including two of the longest gains of his career...had game-highs of 8 catches for 130 yards along with 133 yards on just 3 kickoff returns...rallied the Lobos from an early deficit with a 63-yard TD on a screen pass...broke one tackle before going untouched the rest of the way into the end zone...took the opening kickoff of the 2nd half back 82 yards - the longest at UNM since 1998 - to set up the final UNM TD. vs. Colorado State...Outstanding performance, pulling in 9 passes for 83 yards and a TD...3 grabs for 43 yards, including a 28-yard TD, on consecutive plays in the 1st quarter. vs. Air Force...Caught 7 balls for 84 yards and had 4 kickoff returns for 69 yards for a total of 153 all-purpose yards...kept two FG drives alive with a pair of long 3rd down grabs along the sideline...had a 21-yard TD catch negated by a questionable illegal shift penalty. at San Diego State...Finished with 182 all-purpose yards, including 73 on 5 catches...also had 100 yards on 4 kickoff returns, including a long of 35...jump-started the Lobos' game-winning TD drive in the final 2 minutes with a long catch of 22 yards on the opening play...was back in his hometown just 3 weeks after his mother's (Sheila) funeral there on Sept. 27. vs. Sacramento State...Strong performance despite playing with a heavy heart, 7 days after his mother passed away...7 receptions for 69 yards, including a long of 14 on the 1st play of the game, in just 3 quarters of work. at Arizona...Outstanding performance helping to lead the Lobos to a landmark road win...tied his career-high with 11 catches for a game-high 164 yards - the 2nd highest total in his career - against one of the most experienced and talented secondary units in the Pac-10, led by All-American CB Antoine Cason...pulled in his first TD catch of the year from 23 yards out...beat Cason several times, getting free on post patterns downfield or quick slants...also has a season-long 25-yard kickoff return, a 9-yard run to convert a key 3rd-and-5 play, and a solo tackle in punt coverage to drop Cason for no gain at his own 15 yard line. vs. New Mexico State...Outstanding night to lead the Lobos to victory over ther rival Aggies...game-high 128 yards on 6 catches...also had a 3-yard rushing TD...laid out for a 38-yard diving catch to set up the Lobos' go-ahead TD in the 4th quarter...also had 2 solo tackles in kick coverage. at UTEP...Another outstanding effort in a season-opener, finishing with a career-high 11 receptions for 77 yards...most catches by a Lobo since Hank Baskett had 11 vs. BYU in 2005...caught 5 balls for 50 yards in the fourth quarter alone. 2006 (JUNIOR): Honorable Mention all-MWC selection who was one of the biggest receiving threats in the MWC, despite catching balls from 3 different starting QBs...2nd on the team and 3rd in the conference with 859 receiving yards (66.1/game)...he and fellow junior Travis Brown (867) were the second pair of UNM receivers ever to go over 800 yards and the first duo to have 50+ catches since 1990...2 100-yard games on the year, including an MWC-high 179 at New Mexico State...also ranked 2nd in the league with 9 receiving TDs, which tied for fourth on the UNM single-season list...53 catches were second on the team (9th MWC)...16.2 yards/catch was the second-highest among the MWC's top-10 reception leaders...long of 61 on a screen pass...caught a pass in every game during the season...entered the year with a 23-game total of 9 catches for 89 yards (9.9 avg.) and no TDs...also played on 3 special teams units...was one of the top gunners on the punt and kickoff team and rejoined the kick return team in week 7...averaged 18.6 yards on his team-high 18 returns, including a long of 30...also recorded 4 solo tackles and raced downfield to stop several rolling punts deep in opponents' territory...2nd on the team and 5th in the MWC with 1,216 all-purpose yards on the year (93.5/game). `06 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. TCU...Turned in another fine performance against one of the nation's top pass defenses, finishing with game-highs of 6 catches for 96 yards and a TD...4 grabs for 68 yards in the 4th quarter, including back-to-back receptions of 22 and 38 yards to take UNM down to the TCU 20 in the final minutes of a 6-point game...twice converted 3rd-and-long plays, including an 8-yard TD on 3rd-and-7 to cut the Horned Frog lead to 24-21 early in the 4th quarter. at Colorado State...Led the team with 6 catches for 81 yards...came up with big grabs to convert a pair of 3rd-and-long plays and drew a pass interference penalty to set up the Lobos' first TD...also returned 3 kickoffs for 53 yards. vs. Utah...Exploded for 136 yards and 2 TDs on just 4 catches (34 avg.) after being shutout in the 1st quarter, helping the Lobos to the biggest comeback in school history...displayed incredible speed and athleticism as he beat All-American CB Eric Weddle 3 times in 1-on-1 coverage...took a crossing pass 40 yards for a TD past a diving Weddle to spark the Lobo comeback late in the 2nd quarter...opened the 3rd quarter with a 42-yard catch-and-run TD, beating Weddle and the rest of the Ute DBs down the sideline to the cone...escaped Weddle once again for a 36-yard gain on the Lobos' next offensive play to set-up a FG...final catch was a phenomenal 18-yard grab, leaping in double coverage to grab a ball thrown behind him across the middle on the game-winning TD drive. vs. UTEP...Solid performance against a veteran defense...caught 4 balls for 53 yards, including an 18-yard TD on a 3rd-and-10 play...great effort on special teams as well...cradled UNM's first punt at the UTEP 1-yard line, setting up a safety 3 plays later...also had 2 nice open field tackles on Miner speedster Johnnie Lee Higgins. at New Mexico State...Breakthrough performance to earn MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors...5 receptions for a career-high 179 yards, including a school record-tying 3 TDs - the first receiving scores of his career...seventh player at UNM with 3 receiving TDs in a game...every single catch was a pivotal play in the game...first grab went for 43 yards to set up the Lobos' first TD and second catch was good for a 34-yard TD...third reception was a tremendous leaping reception over a defender for a 20-yard score...took a 3rd-and-9 screen pass a career-long 61 yards for a TD on his fourth reception...final catch went for 21 yards on another 3rd-and-9 play deep in UNM territory late in the 4th quarter, helping to secure the victory. vs. Portland State...Outstanding performance in his first career start...game-high 8 catches for 85 yards, including a long of 17. 2005 (SOPHOMORE): Solid all-purpose contributor coming off the bench in all 11 games...rushed for 124 yards and 2 TDs on 23 carries (5.4 avg.) and caught 6 passes for 56 yards (9.3 avg.)...also averaged 19.0 yards on his 7 kickoff returns...receptions, receiving yards and rushing attempts were all career-highs...also had 8 tackles on special teams and twice downed balls inside the 5-yard line as the gunner in punt coverage. 2004 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Three catches for 33 yards in 12 game appearances, but finished 4th on the team with 146 yards rushing on 14 carries (10.4 avg.), including a 65-yard TD and a 15-yard score...also averaged 15.5 yards (232 total) on a team-high 15 kickoff returns, including a long of 39...was outstanding as a gunner in punt coverage, notching 13 tackles (11 solo) and making several nice plays to down punts inside the 10-yard line. HIGH SCHOOL:A 2003 graduate of San Diego Morse HS...rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 30 TDs in two years at Morse High...1,000 yards and 19 TDs his senior season for head coach John Shacklett...also returned 3 kickoffs for TDs and had 2 interceptions, one for a score...first team All-Western League tailback and second team free safety...did not start playing football until the ninth grade...timed at 10.7 in the 100 meters...played receiver/wingback for the Tigers his junior season...competed in the triple jump and 400- and 1,600-meter relays for the track team...a 3.50 GPA and a member of the Honor Roll.PERSONAL:Born Jan. 11, 1985, in San Diego...age is 23...full name is Marcus Anthony Smith...son of Sheila Smith...uncle Ronald Lewis played golf at Grambling in the early `80s...majored in Criminology.CAREER HIGHS:Receptions: 11, twiceReceiving Yards: 179, at New Mexico State (9/9/06) Receiving TDs: 3, at New Mexico State (9/9/06) Longest Catch: 66 (TD), vs. Nevada (12/23/07) 100 yards Receiving: 5 times Rushing Yards: 83, at UNLV (10/16/04) Rushing Attempts: 8, at Missouri (9/10/05) Long Rush: 65 (TD), vs. UNLV (10/16/04) Rushing TDs: 1, 5 times Longest Kickoff Return: 82, vs. UNLV (11/24/07) Kickoff Return Yards: 133, vs. UNLV (11/24/07) All-Purpose Yards: 263, vs. UNLV (11/24/07) 100 yards All-Purpose: 19 times (8 straight) |
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