Shi Smith

Shi Smith
refer to caption
Smith with the South Carolina Gamecocks
Personal information
Born: (1998-10-26) October 26, 1998 (age 26)
Union, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Union County
(Union County, South Carolina)
College:South Carolina (2017–2020)
Position:Wide receiver
NFL draft:2021 / round: 6 / pick: 204
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:28
Receiving yards:400
Receiving touchdowns:2
Return yards:167
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Shiyun M. Smith (born October 26, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina.

Early life

Smith attended Union County High School in Union County, South Carolina. He caught 54 passes for 1,337 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior and 67 passes for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.[1] He committed to the University of South Carolina to play college football as a 4 star recruit.[2]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Shi Smith
WR 		Union, SC Union 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jun 11, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: (67 WR)   Rivals: 205 (34 WR)  247Sports: 159 (4 ATH)  ESPN: 107 (16 WR)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career

As a true freshman at South Carolina in 2017, Smith played in 12 games with seven starts and had 29 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns. He again started nine of 12 games in 2018, recording 45 receptions for 673 yards and four touchdowns.[3] As a junior in 2019, he started all 10 games he played in missing two due to injury. He finished the season with 43 receptions for 489 yards and two touchdowns.[4][5] Smith became South Carolina's primary receiving target his senior season in 2020.[6][7][8] Smith finished his senior season in 2020 with 57 receptions for 633 yards and 4 touchdowns over the course of 9 games.

Following the conclusion of the 2020 season, Smith announced he was declaring for the 2021 NFL draft.[9]

Smith left South Carolina fourth in program history in total catches and eighth in receiving yards. He also is tied for 13th in the record books for career touchdowns.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 9+1⁄2 in
(1.77 m) 		186 lb
(84 kg) 		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.43 s 1.60 s 2.62 s 4.22 s 6.83 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)
All values from Pro Day[11][12][13][14]

Carolina Panthers

Smith was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 204th pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.[15] On May 13, 2021, Smith signed his four-year rookie contract with Carolina.[16] On December 11, 2022, Smith scored his first career touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on a 13 yard pass from Sam Darnold.

On August 29, 2023, Smith was waived by the Panthers.[17]

Tennessee Titans

On September 26, 2023, Smith was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad.[18] His contract expired when the teams season ended January 7, 2024.

Kansas City Chiefs

On January 17, 2024, Smith signed a reserve/future contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was waived on May 4, 2024.[19]

Personal life

On March 25, 2022, Smith was arrested for unlawfully carrying a handgun, drug possession, and speeding in South Carolina.[20]

References

  1. ^ Breiner, Ben (August 4, 2017). "Former Union star Shi Smith turning heads with Gamecocks". Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Caraviello, David (January 31, 2017). "Clemson turned Union's Shi Smith into a wide receiver, and Gamecocks set to reap the rewards". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  3. ^ One of South Carolina's top receivers trying fill in at Deebo Samuel's spot
  4. ^ Shi Smith 100 percent won't be testing the NFL waters, he says
  5. ^ Boynton, Eric (September 15, 2020). "South Carolina desperately needs huge production from Union County alum Shi Smith". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Cloninger, David (October 20, 2020). "Gamecocks' Shi Smith is talented, and doesn't mind telling his opponents". Post and Courier. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  7. ^ From Union County to Columbia, it's Shi Smith's time to shine for the Gamecocks
  8. ^ Boynton, Eric (October 21, 2020). "USC receiver and Union County alum Shi Smith's production, bravado at career-high levels". Independent Mail. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Mack, Chandler (December 8, 2020). "Shi Smith, Ernest Jones declare for NFL Draft". WLTX. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Hadley, Greg (May 2, 2021). "Shi Smith drafted, joins Jaycee Horn in staying close to home". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "Shi Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  12. ^ "2021 NFL Draft Scout Shi Smith College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Cole, Kevin (March 26, 2021). "2021 NFL Draft Comps: South Carolina WR Shi Smith profiles as a Day 1 starter as a slot receiver". PFF. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "Shi Smith 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  15. ^ Gantt, Darin (May 1, 2021). "Panthers choose Shi Smith with 204th pick". Panthers.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Links, Zachary (May 13, 2021). "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2023). "Panthers make moves en route to 53-man roster limit". Panthers.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 26, 2023). "Titans Promote OL Justin Murray to Active Roster, Place RB Julius Chestnut, Safety Mike Brown on Injured Reserve". TennesseeTitans.com.
  19. ^ "Chiefs Announce Roster Moves". Chiefs.com. May 4, 2024.
  20. ^ "Panthers WR Shi Smith arrested on handgun, drug possession charges". NFL.com. Associated Press. March 26, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2024.