Before I had cooked up my plan to get a Dave Krieg autograph out of the really jaded collector mentioned in my previous Krieg post, I had sent to him and was dismayed to miss out on a response. Surprisingly he began to drop correspondence in the mail around 2 months before I got this success- after a bit over a 2 year wait.
Note: The Fleer 1990 is an uncorrected error card. Krieg’s name is mistakenly spelled ‘Kreig’ on the front of the card. As it was uncorrected and in high circulation, it’s worthless.
After redshirt season, ran for 4,679 yards over next 3 years.
Senior year ran for a school record 2,567 yards and 29 TDs, along with 242 yards on 24 catches.
His 450 carries in his Senior year shattered the previous single season college mark held by Marcus Allen, and his 2,567 yards rushing were third all-time.
Selected at the top of the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Had solid debut rookie season with Detroit rushing for 976 yards and 8 rushing TDs in 12 starts- 1,200 yards from scrimmage.
Ran for 747 yards on 217 carries in 2009, logging a career high 41 receptions for 415 yards in 2009.
Tore ACL near end of season, after 13 starts.
Injury sidelined Smith through early 2010, but the Lions had already moved on to Jahvid Best.
Lions allowed Smith to test free agency in 2011, but when Best was sidelined with second concussion of season, they resigned Kevin.
Smith returned to form with a 140 yard, 2 TD effort, in comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Suffered ankle injury the following week and was not retained at end of season.
Joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL in 2014, but was released after a few days.
Has climbed the college coaching ranks ever since, starting at his Alma Mater UCF in 2015.
Then it was Florida Atlantic in 2018, and Ole Miss, where I got his autograph in 2020.
As of 2023 Kevin is the RB coach at the University of Miami, FL.
Score 2009, #98Panini Prestige 2010, #68
NOTES:
Kevin has a lot of great cards, and hit all my favorite sets from this period. His Score and Donruss cards really hit the mark for me. Kevin’s one of those players where if he didn’t see all that wear and tear on his body I think he would’ve gone on to have a fabulous NFL career- but such is the pro life.
Made the jump to coaching later that year, joining Penn State for 1991 and 1992.
Over the 90s got more seasoning first as a DB coach at Wake Forest (1993-95) and then later as a Defensive Assistant at Syracuse (1996-98) and Michigan (1999-02).
Saw first turn in pros with the Seahawks (2003-06) and then Cardinals (07-09) as a DB coach.
After one year stint as DC at Florida (2010), worked for the Ravens as a Secondary Coach from 2011-13.
Then took reins with Lions (2014-17) and Bengals (2018) as defensive coordinator.
In 2019, joined Steelers as Senior Defensive Assistant and Secondary Coach, and in 2022 was promoted to defensive coordinator.
NOTES:
Another success story, Teryl has quietly made the puddle jump up the ranks of football coaching ranks after getting some seasoning in the World League.
Teryl came to my attention around 7 or 8 years ago, when he was considered for the head coaching position at the University of Texas. He actually played– so I wanted to get him on something. Since many players did not have cards who were in the World League, I thought this helmet card was the next best thing.
WLAF
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/A
1.0
0
1
9
9.0
0
9
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
