{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1973)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox CFL biography | name = Junior Smith | team = | image = | import = Yes | position1 = Running back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|4|18}} | birth_place = | number = 1<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/smit24660.html | title=JUNIOR SMITH | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=21 May 2025}}</ref> | college = East Carolina (1991–1994) | high_school = E. E. Smith {{nowrap|(Fayetteville, North Carolina)}} | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 7 | weight_lbs = 185 | playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1995}} | playing_team1 = Shreveport Pirates | playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1996}} | playing_team2 = Hamilton Tiger-Cats* | statleague = CFL | statlabel1 = Rushing yards | statvalue1 = 246 | statlabel2 = Receiving average | statvalue2 = 4.5 | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = 1 }} '''Wardell''' "'''Junior'''" '''Smith''' (born April 18, 1973) is an American former football running back. He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates, and professionally for the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
==Early life== Wardell Smith was born on April 18, 1973.<ref name="ecu">{{cite web | url=https://ecupirates.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/junior-smith/636 | title=Junior Smith | publisher=East Carolina University | accessdate=21 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="pfa"/> He played high school football at E. E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun/172852410/ | title=Smith seniors, Junior too much for Hornets | work=The Durham Sun | date=September 1, 1990 | accessdate=21 May 2025 | author=Armstrong, Elson,, Jr.}}</ref><ref name="fay"/> He rushed for 2,454 yards his senior year in 1990.<ref name="fay">{{cite news | url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/football/2019/07/30/ex-golden-bull-star-junior-smith-chosen-for-ecu-hall/4577201007/ | title=Ex-Golden Bull star Junior Smith chosen for ECU Hall | work=The Fayetteville Observer | date=July 30, 2019 | accessdate=21 May 2025 | author=Batten, Sammy}}</ref> Smith was not heavily recruited by major schools coming out of high school.<ref name="fay"/> He chose to sign with the East Carolina Pirates instead of the Appalachian State Mountaineers so that he could play against bigger colleges.<ref name="fay"/>
==College career== Smith was a four-year letterman for the East Carolina Pirates of East Carolina University from 1991 to 1994.<ref name="pfa"/> He rushed for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns in 1992, 1,352 yards and nine touchdowns in 1993, and 1,204 yards and nine touchdowns in 1994, become the first person in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.<ref name="ecu"/><ref name="hof"/> Smith's 278 carries, 1,352 rushing yards, and 290 plays from scrimmage in 1993 were the most among independents that year.<ref name="sr"/> His 1,204 rushing yards and 261 plays from scrimmage in 1994 were also the most among independents that season.<ref name="sr"/> He was a three-time Football News honorable mention All-America selection and also a three-time All-South Independent honoree.<ref name="ecu"/> Smith finished his college career with 3,745 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, and 58 receptions and one receiving touchdown.<ref name="sr">{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/junior-smith-1.html | title=Junior Smith | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=sports-reference.com | accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> His 3,745 rushing yards were a school record.<ref name="hof"/> He graduated from East Carolina with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science in May 1997.<ref name="ecu"/> Smith was inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.<ref name="hof">{{cite web | url=https://ecupirates.com/honors/ecu-athletics-hall-of-fame/junior-smith/172 | title=Junior Smith | publisher=East Carolina University | accessdate=21 May 2025}}</ref>
==Professional career== Smith signed with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (CFL) after going undrafted in the 1995 NFL draft.<ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/s/smit24660.html | title=Junior Smith Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=21 May 2025}}</ref> He dressed in 13 games for the Pirates during the 1995 season, recording 55 carries for 246 yards and one touchdown, 13 catches for 107 yards, 15 special teams tackles, one defensive tackle, and three fumble recoveries (one of which he returned for a touchdown).<ref name="pfa"/> The Pirates folded after the season.
On March 7, 1996, Smith was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in a dispersal draft.<ref name="transactions"/> However, he was later released.<ref name="transactions"/>
==Post-playing career== Smith was a graduate assistant in ECU's Athletic Student Development Office in 1997.<ref name="ecu"/> He was the running backs coach for the Illinois State Redbirds from 1998 to 1999, the Army Black Knights from 2000 to 2003, the Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks in 2004, and the East Carolina Pirates from 2005 to 2009.<ref name="ecu"/><ref name="fay"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=smithjun001 Stats Crew profile] *[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/junior-smith-1.html College stats]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Junior}} Category:Living people Category:1973 births Category:American football running backs Category:Canadian football running backs Category:Players of American football from North Carolina Category:Players of Canadian football from North Carolina Category:East Carolina Pirates football players Category:Shreveport Pirates players Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Category:Illinois State Redbirds football coaches Category:Army Black Knights football coaches Category:Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football coaches Category:East Carolina Pirates football coaches Category:Coaches of American football from North Carolina Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen