KSTP: Former Gophers RB Rodney Smith ready for next chapter of career

BleedGopher · Apr 9, 2020

per KSTP:

Rodney Smith is No. 1 in Gophers history in all-purpose yards. The running back is now hoping to latch on with an NFL team later this month.

Our Darren 'Doogie' Wolfson caught up with Smith. They talked about his NFL Draft preparations, his great run a the 'U', the injury he suffered in the Outback Bowl win over Auburn, and more.

Smith ran for 1,163 yards in 2019, averging 5.1 yards/carry. He also finished with 8 touchdowns, wrapping up his Gophers career with 29.

Former Gophers RB Rodney Smith ready for next chapter of career

Rodney Smith is No. 1 in Gophers history in all-purpose yards. The running back is now hoping to latch on with an NFL team later this month. Our Darren 'Doogie' Wolfson caught up with Smith...

kstp.com

Go Gophers!!

BleedGopher · Apr 10, 2020

STrib: Gophers' Rodney Smith chasing NFL draft dream despite frustrating few months

Smith, back home in Jonesboro, Ga., is trying to make the best of this non-ideal situation. He participated in a “virtual pro day” with Chip Smith, a trainer well-known in NFL circles, and afterward Rodney Smith’s agent circulated that video to teams. It included Smith doing everything but the bench press or jumping measurements because of his injury.

“It was basically just like training. No adrenaline because you’re not performing for anybody. It’s basically just a workout,” Smith said. “But it was still an opportunity for me to show how I move, how fast I can run.”

That was actually one of the biggest questions he’s received from NFL teams, what his true speed is. His video showed him running the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and 4.41 seconds, shot in a way where scouts could clock it themselves as well.

Scouts don’t usually accept video submissions, wary of any editing or not seeing how athletes respond to a one-shot, pressure situation.

But the good news for Smith is that he has plenty of game reps to prove what he can do.

Gophers' Rodney Smith chasing NFL draft dream despite frustrating few months

Running back misses out on pre-draft exposure.

www.startribune.com