Week 9 Stats: 96 rushing yards, 15 rushes, 2 rushing touchdowns, 37 receiving yards, 4 receptions, 1 touchdown reception
Smith, Jr. continues to blaze a trail in the NEC, earning NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Rookie of the Week honors for a league-leading fifth time this season after he powered Central Connecticut to a commanding 49-14 win over Robert Morris at Arute Field on Saturday. The Blue Devils’ standout rookie running back found the end zone three times, recording two rushing touchdowns and adding his first career touchdown catch, against the Colonials. His first two scores — a three-yard catch in the end zone and a one-yard scamper over the goal line — helped Central Connecticut build a comfortable 28-0 cushion. Smith totaled 133 all-purpose yards, rushing for 96 yards on 16 carries while adding 37 yards on four catches. The Baltimore product is the NEC’s leading rusher as he enters Week 10 with 765 yards on the ground and nine rushing scores. His five NEC Rookie of the Week awards are tied for the fifth-most in NEC annals, and they are the most since current NFL running back Julius Chestnut racked up five in his first season at Sacred Heart in 2018.