Wendell Smallwood

Wendell Smallwood
refer to caption
Smallwood returning a kickoff for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016
No. 28 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1994-01-20) January 20, 1994
Wilmington, Delaware
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Eastern Christian Academy
(Elkton, Maryland)
College: West Virginia
NFL Draft: 2016 / Round: 5 / Pick: 153
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2018
Rushing attempts: 167
Rushing yards: 687
Receptions: 30
Receiving yards: 254
Return yards: 387
Total touchdowns: 5
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Wendell Lynn Smallwood Jr.[1] (born January 20, 1994) is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia, and was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Early years

Smallwood attended Red Lion Academy in Bear, Delaware before transferring to Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Maryland for his senior year.[2][3] He was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit and committed to West Virginia University (WVU) to play college football.[4]

College career

As a true freshman at West Virginia in 2013, Smallwood played in 12 games and rushed for 221 yards on 39 carries with one touchdown. He also served as a kick returner, returning 30 kickoffs for a total of 541 yards.[2][5] As a sophomore, he played in all 13 games and made nine starts. He had 722 rushing yards on 148 carries and two touchdowns.[6] He also recorded 31 receptions, fifth most in school history for a single season.[2][7] As a junior in 2015, Smallwood rushed for a Big 12-leading 1,519 yards on 238 carries with nine touchdowns.[8][9] With 2,462 rushing yards in his collegiate career, he finished ninth in school history.[10] After the season, he decided to forego his senior season and entered the 2016 NFL Draft.[11][12] While at West Virginia, he majored in criminology with a minor in communications.[2]

Career statistics

SeasonRushingReceivingFumbles
YearTeamGPGSCar.YardsAvgTDLongRec.YardsAvg.LongTDFumLost
2013WVU121392215.71381113212.030000
2014WVU1391487224.92353132610.550000
2015WVU13122381,5196.4952261606.215000
Career[2]38224252,4625.81252686189.150000

[13]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP
5 ft 10 in
(1.78 m)		 208 lb
(94 kg)		 30 1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 9 1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.47 s 1.57 s 2.63 s 4.28 s 6.83 s 33 1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		 10 ft 00 in
(3.05 m)		 14 reps
All values from NFL Combine.[14][15]
Smallwood (left) celebrates a touchdown with teammate Chris Maragos

Smallwood was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 153rd overall pick.[16] He signed his rookie four-year contract on May 4, 2016.[17]

On September 25, 2016, Smallwood scored his first career rushing touchdown in a 34–3 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Due to an ankle injury limiting starter Ryan Mathews to only two carries, Smallwood was the featured back for the Eagles, recording 89 yards and the touchdown on 17 carries. In Week 6 against the Washington Redskins, he scored his first kickoff return touchdown and the NFL's first kickoff return touchdown of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on December 12, 2016, finishing his rookie season with 312 rushing yards and a touchdown.[18][19]

In the 2017 season, Smallwood finished with 174 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 13 receptions, and 103 receiving yards.[20] During his second year in the NFL, the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 41-33, giving them their first championship in franchise history.[21][22]

In the 2018 season, Smallwood continued to share the backfield. In Week 3, he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season against the Indianapolis Colts.[23]

Career statistics

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Kick return
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsLngTD
2016PHI 131773124.11916559.2180926186T1
2017PHI 83471743.7261131037.9240493280
Career[24]214774863.9262191588.32401335486T1

Personal life

Smallwood is the son of Nichelle Barber and Wendell Smallwood. Growing up, he was a Philadelphia Eagles fan, his favorite player being Duce Staley, who became his position coach upon Smallwood being drafted by the Eagles.[2]

In July 2014, Smallwood was arrested in Delaware on charges of witness tampering.[25] Smallwood was accused of trying to get a witness to recant statements they made implicating a friend of Smallwood's, Zakee Lloyd, charged with first-degree murder.[26][27] Two weeks later, the charges against Smallwood were dropped when Lloyd pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.[28][29][30][31]

References

  1. ↑ Wells, Adam (July 15, 2014). "West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood Accused of Witness Intimidation". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wendell Smallwood Eagles bio" (PDF). PhiladlephiaEagles.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Delaware native Wendell Smallwood: 'Football saved my life'". Delaware Online. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  4. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood Running back". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood 2013 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  6. ↑ Chatmon, Brandon (July 28, 2015). "Versatile Wendell Smallwood could be a key to West Virginia's offense". Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  8. ↑ "2015 Big 12 Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  9. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  10. ↑ "West Virginia Mountaineers Rushing". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  11. ↑ "West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood declares for NFL draft". ESPN.com. January 7, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  12. ↑ Taylor, Allan (January 6, 2016). "Wendell Smallwood opts for NFL draft after all". WVMetroNews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  14. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood, DS #14 RB, West Virginia". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood Draft Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ "2016 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  17. ↑ Sheridan, Phil (May 4, 2016). "Wendell Smallwood, four other draft picks sign with Eagles". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  18. ↑ McPherson, Chris (December 12, 2016). "Eagles Place Three On Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  19. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  20. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  21. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LII". NFL. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Super Bowl LII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots - February 4th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  23. ↑ "Young Eagles running backs Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood shine in win over Colts". Courier-Post. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  24. ↑ "Wendell Smallwood Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  25. ↑ "RB Wendell Smallwood arrested". ESPN.com. July 15, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  26. ↑ Brown, Robin (July 15, 2014). "West Virginia's Wendell Smallwood accused of witness intimidation". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  27. ↑ Huguenin, Mike (July 15, 2014). "WVU's Wendell Smallwood faces charges of witness intimidation". NFL.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  28. ↑ Taylor, Allan (July 29, 2014). "Delaware charges dropped against WVU's Smallwood". WVMetroNews.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  29. ↑ O'Sullivan, Sean (July 29, 2014). "Witness intimidation charges against West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood dropped after securing murder plea against gunman". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  30. ↑ Radcliff, John (July 29, 2014). "Charges Against WVU Running Back Wendell Smallwood Dropped". SmokingMusket.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  31. ↑ Hinnen, Jerry (July 29, 2014). "Charges against West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood dropped". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
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