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Emmitt Smith was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and became the league's all-time leading rusher after a 15-year career. He retired after the 2004 season.
Born Emmitt Smith, III on May 15th, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida, Emmitt began his illustrious career at Escambia High School, before attending the University of Florida . He left Florida after his junior year and being was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL in the first -round of the 1990 draft.
Prior to Emmitt’s arrival at Escambia, the Gators had just one winning season in its previous 18. When Emmitt stepped on the field his freshman year, the losing would stop. Emmitt rushed for 1,525 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first year. Although Emmitt opened a few eyes his freshman year, no one could have predicted the numbers Emmitt would post over the course of his high school career. His sophomore year he rushed for 2,424 yards and scored 26 touchdowns and led his team to their first state football championship with a 47-14 victory over St. Peterburg in the Class 3-A final. Escambia was moved to Class 4-A, Emmitt’s junior year, but this would have no affect on Emmitt’s ability to run over the competition. He rushed for 2,918 yards and 33 touchdowns that year and the Gators regained the state championship title. Although Escambia was not able to recapture the title Emmitt’s senior year, he was able to polish off his career with 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns. Emmitt is still considered one of the top All-Time Offensive Players in high school football.
Emmitt was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1990 draft. Coach Jimmy Johnson was looking to rebuild after a 1-15 season and felt that Emmitt could be the cornerstone of the Cowboy’s offense. Over the next twelve years Emmitt was able to help lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl Championships, lead the NFL in rushing four times, was the league MVP in 1993, MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII and made eight Pro Bowl appearances. In addition, Emmitt was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons and on October 27, 2002 he surpassed Walter Payton’s All-Time Leading Rushing Record of 16,726 yards and became the NFL’s All-Time Leading Rusher. On September 19, 2005 Emmitt was added to the Cowboys Ring of Honor along with his former teammates Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. After 12 seasons with the Cowboys, Emmitt finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals playing the 2003-2004 seasons.
Emmitt’s mother Mary Smith always told him that “football football could end at any time, but your education will last a lifetime.” Though he left school early after his junior year to become Dallas’ first-round draft selection in 1990, he made vow to her to complete his degree. He fulfilled that promise by returning to the University of Florida each NFL off-season to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Public Recreation in 1996. He continues to support higher education and is currently sponsoring 19 underserved kids’ college education.
Today Emmitt lives with his wife Pat in Dallas, Texas with their four children. The son of Mary and Emmitt Smith Jr., Emmitt has two sisters, Marsha and Connie, and three brothers, Erik, Emil and Emory.
His 45 100-yard rushing games rank second ever.
'''NFL Career Rushing Stats'''
2004 Cardinals: 267-937 yds, 9 TDs
2003 Cardinals: 90-256 yds, 2 TDs
2002 Cowboys: 254-975 yds, 5 TDs
2001 Cowboys: 261-1,021 yds, 3 TDs
2000 Cowboys: 294-1,203 yds, 9 TDs
1999 Cowboys: 329-1,397 yds, 11 TDs
1998 Cowboys: 319-1,332 yds, 13 TDs
1997 Cowboys: 261-1,074 yds, 4 TDs
1996 Cowboys: 327-1,204 yds, 12 TDs
1995 Cowboys: 377-1,773 yds, 25 TDs
1994 Cowboys: 368-1,484 yds, 21 TDs
1993 Cowboys: 283-1,486 yds, 9 TDs
1992 Cowboys: 373-1,713 yds, 18 TDs
1991 Cowboys: 365-1,563 yds, 12 TDs
1990 Cowboys: 241-937 yds, 11 TDs
'''Total Rushing: 4,409 attempts, 18,355 yards, 164 TDs'''
==External links==
* [http://www.dallascowboys.com Dallas Cowboys website]
* [http://www.azcardinals.com Arizona Cardinals website]
* [http://www.nfl.com National Fooball League NFL website]
* [http://www.gatorzone.com/football Florida Gators Football website]
* [http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/esch/Master/Index.asp Escambia High School website]
[[Category:Football Teams]]
[[Category:Men's Sports Teams]]
[[Category:Football Players]]
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[[Category:Professional Sports Athletes]]
