Shi Smith is making plays in Mobile, Alabama, at Reese’s Senior Bowl practice, as he did on Saturdays at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. Gamecocks’ four-year-old wide receiver passed a defender and left his feet for a reception on Tuesday afternoon.
Smith is the only Gamecock on mobile for the 2021 Senior Bowl. Gamecocks were well represented in recent years at the event, first with Deebo Samuel in 2019 and Javon Kinlaw in 2020.
Shi Smith ?? ?? #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/XRZU5kwm7b
– Nick Faber (@NickFaberNFL) January 26, 2021
Smith was the number one receiver for Gamecocks in 2020. He took 57 passes for 633 yards in nine games, ranking in the top 10 of the SEC in both receptions per game (6.3) and receiving yards per game (70 , 3). He recorded 174 career receptions for 2,204 yards, fourth on the school’s all-time reception list and eighth on the school’s career receiving yard list. He will try to extend the sequence of having a wide receiver in South Carolina to three years after Samuel (second round in 2019) and Bryan Edwards (third round in 2020).
– Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 26, 2021
Here’s more about Smith’s career in a Gamecocks uniform, courtesy of GamecocksOnline.com.
2019
Junior, who was second in the team with 43 receptions for 489 yards … averaged 11.4 yards per reception with a pair of touchdowns … started all 10 games he played in … lost the Vanderbilt games and Appalachian State with a tendon injury … the best game came against Tennessee when he took 11 passes, the best of his career, for 156 yards, including a 75 yard touchdown on the first play of the game … had six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown against Alabama … led the team with five receptions against North Carolina and Clemson … returned 12 kicks for 263 yards, an average of 21.9 yards … the long return was 60 yards at the opening of the season against North Carolina.
2018
Sophomore who pulled 45 passes for 673 yards, an average of 15.0 yards, with four touchdowns … played in 12 games, making nine games … missed Akron’s game with back spasms … had a pair of 100 yards receiving games … had the biggest game of the season in Vanderbilt’s victory with five receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown … recorded three receptions for 51 yards and a score against Texas A&M … got three receptions for 82 yards in Ole Miss’s victory … made the best play of Chattanooga’s victory, losing several tackles as part of a 53-yard touchdown reception … recorded nine receptions, then the best of his career for 109 yards and a TD against Clemson. . had six 76-yard receptions at the Belk Bowl vs. Virginia … also had an initial 62 yard turn in the bowl game.
2017
A true freshman who played in 12 disputes, making seven starts … thrown in 29 passes for 409 yards, an average of 14.1 yards, with three scores and no fall … he ranked third in the team in yards received , fourth in receptions and second in yards per reception … ranked third among freshmen at the SEC with 2.4 receptions per game and third with 34.1 yards received per game … also returned five kickoffs for 76 yards … made his first career start in Missouri and took four passes for 22 yards … got three receptions for 86 yards, the best of his career, and his first touchdown in Texas A&M … led the team with five 76-yard receptions in the victory over Vanderbilt, including 36- yard TD … recorded three 30-yard receptions in Wofford’s victory before letting win an injury that forced him to lose the Clemson game … returned to the Outback game Bowl against Michigan and responded with three d and 59 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown reception, the longest of his career.