Miami Hurricanes hire NCAA record-holder from UCF, Southridge alum, to coach running backs
The Miami Hurricanes are in need of a lethal running game to go with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s exceptional passing game.
Coach Mario Cristobal has brought in former NFL player, UCF star and Miami Southridge graduate Kevin Smith — Ole Miss’ successful running backs coach the past two seasons under Lane Kiffin — to begin the process.
Smith, on Friday hired as UM’s new running backs coach, will replace Eric Hickson.
“From his playing days at Miami Southridge to his record-setting collegiate career to his five years in the NFL, Coach Smith has known nothing but success on the field,” Cristobal said in a UM release. “In his five years as a college assistant coach, he has already showed an elite ability to prepare running backs for the next level. As one of the top young coaches in the nation, I know Coach Smith will recruit, coach and develop our running back room at a tremendous level and elevate the culture of our program. I’m fired up to add him to our offensive staff.”
Smith just completed his second season at Ole Miss during a coaching career that began in 2017 at FAU in Boca Raton, where Kiffin was the coach. Smith stayed at FAU through 2019 and then went with Kiffin to coach the Rebels beginning in 2020.
Ole Miss’s rushing offense in 2021 ranked 12th nationally of 130 FBS teams, averaging 217.6 yards a game. Its scoring offense was ranked 24th, for 33.7 points a game.
“Miami has arguably the richest tradition in college football history. It’s an honor to be the running backs coach here,” Smith said. “But with it, there’s also expectations. That’s what my game is built on — it’s built on developing and producing, and I’m ready for the challenge. I’m honored to be here and I think that a part of my job, along with the rest of the coaches on staff, is to take this thing to the next level.
“You’ll never fill the shoes of the guys who are on the walls here at The U, but you can continue to build on that legacy and do great things for not only the running backs who played here, but everybody from the University of Miami program.”
The Rebels’ running game this season was led by Jerrion Ealy, who amassed 768 yards and five rushing touchdowns for 5.8 yards a carry. His per-carry average ranked 34th nationally. Snoop Conner added 647 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns (24th most rushing TDs nationally), and quarterback Matt Corral rushed for 614 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hickson, who has been at UM since 2019, led a rushing offense this past season ranked 97th for (127.7 yards a game average).
Smith played for the UCF Knights from 2004 to 2007, becoming UCF’s first consensus All-American in 2007 and all-time leading rusher with 905 carries for 4,864 yards (5.37 average) and 45 touchdowns. Smith set 17 school rushing records for UCF, and established NCAA FBS single-season records with 450 carries and 13 100-yard performances in 2007.
He was drafted in 2008 by the Detroit Lions with the first pick of the third round and played five seasons in the NFL.
At Miami Southridge, Smith played tailback and safety.
UM RB situation
The Hurricanes lost two top running backs to major knee injuries this season. Second-year freshman Don Chaney Jr. sustained a right-knee injury in the second game of the season against Appalachian State on Sept. 11.
Starter Cam’Ron Harris, who is entering the NFL Draft and will not return in 2022, was injured in UM’s 45-42 loss at North Carolina.
Chaney will return and vie for the starting job with soon-to-be third-year sophomore Jaylan Knighton, UM’s leading 2021 rusher with 561 yards on 145 carries for a 3.9-yard average. He scored eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving.
UM also will have sophomore tailbacks Cody Brown (34 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games) and Thad Franklin Jr. (23 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns in five games).
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 10:41 AM.
