Bio

SENIOR (2016): Appeared and started in 11 games for the Panthers...A Second-Team, All-C-USA honoree…Also named a second-team, all-conference selection by Phil Steele…Caught 42 passes for 506 yards and four touchdowns…Became the fifth player in FIU history to register over 2,000 yards receiving during a career (2,001 yards)…Averaged 12.0 yards-per-catch and 46.0 yards-per-game in 2016…Finished his career registering at least one reception in every game he played (43-straight – second-most in school history)…Tallied two catches for 50 yards, including  a 36-yard touchdown reception at Old Dominion (11/26)…Recorded 75 yards on six receptions and a touchdown against Middle Tennessee (10/29)...Caught five passes for 81 yards and one touchdown on Homecoming against Louisiana Tech (10/22)...Hauled in his first touchdown reception of the season - the game winning nine-yard reception - with 1:05 left at Charlotte (10/15)...Caught three passes for 12 yards against the 49ers...Caught three passes for 27 yards at UTEP (10/8)...Recorded 59 yards receiving on four catches against FAU (10/1) in Shula Bowl XV…Had five catches for 70 yards  against Maryland (9/9)...Opened the season with a season-high eight catches for 83 yards versus Indiana (Sept. 1)…A Preseason First-Team, All-Conference USA honoree by Athlon and Phil Steele and was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List.

JUNIOR (2015): Appeared and started in eight games for the Panthers...Recorded 36 catches for 397 yards and four touchdowns...Finish fourth on the team in receptions, third in receiving yards and second in receiving touchdowns...Caught three-or-more passes in six games, including a career-high 10 versus Old Dominion (10/24)...Notched the fourth-most receiving yards in a game with 183 versus the Monarchs...Has caught a pass in 32-straight games...Missed final four games of the season due to injury...Named game captain two times (at UCF - 9/3; at Middle Tennessee - 10/17)...Tied a career-high in receptions with 10 versus Old Dominion (10/24), tallying a career-best 183 yards and two touchdowns versus the Monarchs...Named John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week for his performance versus ODU...Recorded five catches for a then-season-high 62 yards receiving at Middle Tennessee (10/17)...Caught two passes for 23 yards, including his second touchdown catch of the season versus UTEP (10/10)...Scored first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard strike versus N.C. Central (9/19)...Caught a season-high six passes for 42 yards versus the Eagles...Registered a season-high five catches for 25 yards at Indiana (9/12)...Recorded three catches for 18 yards versus the Knights...A preseason All-C-USA selection...Earned Preseason First-Team All-C-USA recognition (Phil Steele and Athlon)...Named to the John Mackey Award Preseason and Midseason Watch List.

SOPHOMORE (2014): Appeared and started in all 12 games for the Panthers...Earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors...Named an SI.com All-American (Honorable Mention)...Named game captain three times (10/18 vs. Marshall; 11/1 vs. Rice; 11/22 at North Texas)...Was named to the John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List...Led FIU with 710 yards on 61 catches and eight touchdowns...Also led all tight ends nationally in touchdowns, receiving yards and receptions...Ranked No. 7 in the conference in receptions-per-game (5.1) and was No. 8 in the league in receiving yards-per-game (59.2)...Ranked No. 38 in receiving touchdowns, nationally...Recorded 10 “big plays” of 20-yards-or-more...Set the school record for tight ends in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions...His eight receiving touchdowns broke the previous season-best of seven set by T.Y. Hilton (2008, 2011) and Cory McKinney (2002)...The 710 yards receiving ranked seventh all-time at FIU for a season and his 61 catches were tied for fourth in a single year...Has caught a pass in 24-straight games...Registered a career-high 140 yards on eight catches, including three touchdowns versus Middle Tennessee (11/15)...The three receiving touchdowns were the most all-time by any Panther in a single game...Recorded two catches for 35 yards, including a touchdown at Old Dominion (11/8)...Grabbed eight catches for 74 yards versus Marshall (10/18)...Tallied seven receptions for 62 yards versus Florida Atlantic (10/2)...Recorded his third touchdown of the season on the sixth-longest reception in school history (75 yards) at UAB (9/27)...Had seven catches for 62 yards with one touchdown versus Pittsburgh (9/13)...Was named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week after catching nine passes for 127 yards, including one touchdown...Recognized by Phil Steele as an All-C-USA first team selection.

FRESHMAN (2013): Started all 12 games as a true freshman…earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors as well as a spot on the league’s All-Freshmen Team…led all FIU players with 39 receptions for 388 yards…was the only FIU receiver to have a catch in all 12 games…either led or tied for the team-lead in receptions or receiving yards in eight of 12 games…was the first true freshman to lead the team in receptions and receiving yards since T.Y. Hilton in 2008…first career reception was a 20-yarder at Maryland (8/31)…caught his first career touchdown on a one-yard pass from E.J. Hilliard against Bethune-Cookman (9/14)…had four receptions for 43 yards in a 24-23 victory at Southern Miss (10/5)…tallied two receptions for 54 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown catch from Jake Medlock vs. Louisiana Tech (10/26)… had a career-best 10 receptions for 97 yards against East Carolina (11/2)…the 10 receptions were the second-most by an FIU tight end in a single game…caught three passes for 46 yards vs. Marshall (11/23), followed by five catches for 44 yards at FAU (11/29).

HIGH SCHOOL (2012): Ocala Star Banner All-County First Team…2012 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-District 7 Football Team…rated the No. 75 tight end nationally from 247Sports…rated three stars from 247Sports…committed on July 23, 2012…had a team leading 34 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns as a senior...as a junior, had nine receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns...played for Coach Ryan Hearn...also competed in weightlifting, finishing second in the county in the 219-pound weight class.

PERSONAL: Parents - Wayne Smith (deceased) and Karen Smith...siblings - Latia, Tasha, Tamara, Taneka and Wayne...born Aug. 22, 1995...Majoring in liberal studies...began playing football at age five...played Pop Warner football for the Northwest Raiders, growing up in Philadelphia.