BOCA RATON — The chips all seemed to be in Kevin Smith’s favor at the proverbial blackjack table that is the NFL Draft.
Ten years before becoming a rising star in the coaching ranks as Florida Atlantic’s running backs coach, Smith was on the verge of being drafted in April 2008. Years before Shaquem Griffin and UCF proclaiming they were national champions, Smith was the face of the Knights, having just run for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns at 21-years-old.
Smith was a consensus All-American and finished 62 yards shy of setting the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a season, which all but guaranteed the former Southridge star would be among the first running backs taken and have happy memories of the NFL Draft, right?