Riley Smith (American football)

Riley Henry Smith (July 14, 1911 – August 9, 1999) was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) during the late 1930s. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American. After his NFL career ended, he became a coach.

Riley Smith
No. 26
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1911-07-14)July 14, 1911
Carrollton, Mississippi
Died:August 9, 1999(1999-08-09) (aged 88)
Mobile, Alabama
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Columbus
(Columbus, Mississippi)
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:1936 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Carries:45
Rushing yards:58
Receptions:18
Receiving yards:300
Passing yards:290
Total touchdowns:8
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early life

Smith was born in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1911. He originally attended and played high school football for Greenwood High School, but then moved to Columbus, Mississippi and played at Columbus High School.[1]

College career

Smith attended the University of Alabama, where he played quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He was passer and runner, but could also block, punt, kick extra points and boot field goals.[1] In 1935, he was part of the team that won the Rose Bowl, was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, and also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference.[1] Smith played in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.

Professional playing career

Smith was the second player chosen (behind Jay Berwanger) in the first-ever 1936 NFL Draft. In 1936 and 1937 he missed only three minutes in 26 Redskins games, but an injury ended his playing career early.[1]

Coaching career and later life

After retirement, Smith became a football coach at Washington and Lee University, where he was an backfield coach in 1939 in 1940 and then succeeded Warren E. Tilson as head coach in 1941.[2] He served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander from 1942 to 1945 and then became a real estate developer in Mobile, Alabama.[1]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Washington and Lee Generals (Southern Conference) (1941)
1941 Washington and Lee 1–6–21–2–210th
Washington and Lee: 1–6–21–2–2
Total:1–6–2

References
  1. "Riley Smith's College Football HOF profile". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  2. "Washington And Lee Puts Smith Into Tilson's Place". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Associated Press. April 21, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
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