FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2008

Rod Smith to be inducted into Division II Football Hall of Fame

Florence, Ala.. - Former Lions great and Missouri Southern Hall of Famer Rod Smith will be one of two individuals inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame this year, joining former Jacksonville State and San Francisco Giants defensive back Eric Davis.

Smith and Davis will be inducted on Dec. 12 as part of a combined Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Florence Conference Center in Florence, Ala. Smith is the second MIAA player to be selected for induction to the Hall of Fame. Former Pittsburg State RB Ronald Moore was inducted as part of the Class of 2005. There are currently 25 former players in the Hall.

A native of Texarkana, Ark., Smith enjoyed a stellar career at Southern, where he set MIAA records in career receiving yards (3,122) and touchdowns (35). He also still holds school records for catches in a game (13), receiving yards in a game (254), receiving yards in a season (1,439), highest average gain per reception in a season (24.0), touchdown receptions in a season (15) and longest pass reception (98 yards). He finished his career with 158 receptions for 3,122 yards and 34 touchdowns, which is now third all-time in Division II.

Smith helped the Lions to their last MIAA title and NCAA post season appearance when the team went 9-1-1 in 1993. That season, he was named first-team All-America by the Associated Press, Kodak, Football Gazette and NCAA Division II sports information directors. In 1993, Smith caught 63 passes for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the top football player in Division II. He was named Missouri Southern’s Outstanding Graduate in 1994 after completing his collegiate studies with three degrees in economics and finance, general business, as well as marketing and management.

Smith entered the NFL with the Broncos as a college free agent on May 3, 1994. He holds Broncos' franchise records for career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown catches (68) and overall touchdowns (71). He also leads all undrafted players in NFL history in every major career-receiving category. Smith entered the 2007 season ranked 11th in overall league annals in career receptions, 17th in career receiving yards, and tied for 30th in career receiving touchdowns. In 2005, he became one of 25 players in NFL history to reach 10,000 career yards, a feat he accomplished on Monday Night Football vs. Kansas City (9/26/05). Smith is the first player from the MIAA to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, and the first to play for two Super Bowl winning teams (Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII).

He leads all undrafted players in NFL history in every major career receiving category. He posted eight career 1,000 yard seasons, including six straight from 1997-2002. He is also one of just six players to have back-to-back seasons with 100 receptions. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2001, and 2004.

Smith was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 and is the only football player in Southern history to have his number (9) retired. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame this Spring and retired from professional football before the start of the 2008 season.