Athletes - Steve Smith

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	Athletes - Steve Smith

Stevonne L. Smith (born May 12, 1979 in Lynwood, California) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Smith's quickness, agility, and playmaking ability helped establish him as one of the best receivers in the NFL after a brilliant 2005 season.

High school career

At University High School in Los Angeles, California, Smith was chosen for the All-California Interstate Football and All-Metro League teams.

College career

Smith started at Santa Monica College, and stayed for two years before transferring to the University of Utah. During his time at Santa Monica, he made second team All-Western State Conference South in his sophomore year. While at Santa Monica Smith played with current Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson. Upon arriving at Utah, he established himself as the premier wideout in the conference, making the All-Mountain West Conference team both years he was there. He set the school's current record for yards per catch, 20.6. He began to receive attention from NFL scouts after superb game, highlighted by a kickoff return, in the Blue-Gray All Star Game on Christmas Day 2000

Carolina Panthers

Smith was taken in the third round (74th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent the season primarily as a kick and punt returner, and led all rookies in net yardage with 1,994 yards, good enough for fourth in the league behind only Priest Holmes, Marshall Faulk, and Derrick Mason. He was the only rookie chosen to the Pro Bowl, and joined Todd Sauerbrun as the only representatives from the Panthers. During the 2002 NFL season, Smith made the starting wide receiver corps and continued his kickoff duties. In one game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Smith became only the second player in NFL history to return two punts for touchdowns and post a reception for a touchdown in the same game. Smith was a critical part of the Panther offense during their run to Super Bowl XXXVIII, and posted then career highs in receiving yards (1,110), receving touchdowns (7), and receptions (88) in the regular season. He continued this high level of play during the postseason, and his 69-yard touchdown catch in double-overtime to top the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoffs ranks as the longest play to end a playoff game in NFL history (and was voted by Panthers fans as the greatest single moment in team history). The Panthers did not get a chance to defend their NFC title the following season, however, as Smith suffered a broken leg in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers, and was one of fourteen Panthers players on injured reserve during the 2004 NFL season. Smith rebounded from the injury in a big way the following season, however, leading the NFL with 1,563 receiving yards and tying for the league lead in receptions and touchdowns with 103 and 12, respectively. He also averaged 15.2 yards per catch. He and teammates Jake Delhomme (QB), Julius Peppers (DE), and Mike Wahle (OL) were selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl. Smith also shared the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award with New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

Career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

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