Hunter Smith
Encyclopedia
Hunter Dwight Smith is an American football
punter, currently a free agent and most recently for the Washington Redskins
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Notre Dame
.
Smith earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI
.
in Sherman, Texas
and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he saw action as a quarterback, tight end, punter, and kicker, and was a two-time All-State selection.
Smith threw a touchdown pass for the Washington Redskins against the Denver Broncos on November 15, 2009. The 35-yard pass went to the fullback, Mike Sellers. Smith was subsequently named the NFC special teams player of the week. He had previously run for an 8-yard touchdown against the New York Giants
in the season's first game, making him the first special-teams player in NFL history to run and pass for a TD in the same season.
On October 7, 2010, the Redskins signed Smith after a season-ending injury to Josh Bidwell
.
On December 14, 2010, the Redskins cut Smith after botching an extra point attempt, a result of him allowing the snap pass through his hands as he held for kicker Graham Gano
. At the time, the Redskins trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17-16 with nine seconds to play in the fourth quarter. The Redskins lost the game. As of now, he is a free agent.
, is a member of the band Connersvine. Connersvine has an acoustic
-driven rock sound that communicates through worshipful melodies and passionate vocals. Made up of Chris Wilson and Smith, the acoustic duo sings about their religious faith, both recorded and live, sometimes on their own, and oftentime with a full band.
In 2005, he wrote and performed a song on the Bob and Tom Show, titled "The Most Accurate Holder to Ever Play the Game," referring to his holding duties for former Colts kicker
Mike Vanderjagt
.
In 2007, Connersvine performed in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
as part of a 25th anniversary celebration for Christian radio station KSBJ
. The evening began with their performance followed by TobyMac
and Mercy Me among other artists. He and his wife, Jennifer, their sons, Josiah and Samuel, reside in Zionsville.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter, currently a free agent and most recently for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
Smith earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
.
Early years
Smith attended Sherman High SchoolSherman Independent School District
Sherman Independent School District is a public school district based in Sherman, Texas .In addition to Sherman, the district also serves the village of Knollwood...
in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he saw action as a quarterback, tight end, punter, and kicker, and was a two-time All-State selection.
College career
Smith played in all 45 career games for the University of Notre Dame over the course of his four seasons. He also handled all field goal holding duties. He ranks third on the schools career record list with 174 total punts and second on career yardage with an average of 41.2 yards per punt. Originally recruited as a QB, Smith also handled the emergency quarterback role. In both 1998 and 1999, Smith was Football News All-Independent first-team.NFL career
Smith was named AFC special teams player of the week while playing for Indianapolis in 2005.Smith threw a touchdown pass for the Washington Redskins against the Denver Broncos on November 15, 2009. The 35-yard pass went to the fullback, Mike Sellers. Smith was subsequently named the NFC special teams player of the week. He had previously run for an 8-yard touchdown against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the season's first game, making him the first special-teams player in NFL history to run and pass for a TD in the same season.
On October 7, 2010, the Redskins signed Smith after a season-ending injury to Josh Bidwell
Josh Bidwell
Joshua John Bidwell is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
.
On December 14, 2010, the Redskins cut Smith after botching an extra point attempt, a result of him allowing the snap pass through his hands as he held for kicker Graham Gano
Graham Gano
Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State...
. At the time, the Redskins trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
17-16 with nine seconds to play in the fourth quarter. The Redskins lost the game. As of now, he is a free agent.
Personal
Smith, a devout ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, is a member of the band Connersvine. Connersvine has an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
-driven rock sound that communicates through worshipful melodies and passionate vocals. Made up of Chris Wilson and Smith, the acoustic duo sings about their religious faith, both recorded and live, sometimes on their own, and oftentime with a full band.
In 2005, he wrote and performed a song on the Bob and Tom Show, titled "The Most Accurate Holder to Ever Play the Game," referring to his holding duties for former Colts kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
.
In 2007, Connersvine performed in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, sometimes called The Woodlands Pavilion or simply The Pavilion, is a concert amphitheatre located in The Woodlands, Texas. It caters to both the performing arts and contemporary artists and is also available for rental. It is owned and operated by The Center for...
as part of a 25th anniversary celebration for Christian radio station KSBJ
KSBJ
KSBJ is a non-commercial Contemporary Christian music radio station based in Humble, Texas, broadcasting on 89.3 MHz FM in the Greater Houston area...
. The evening began with their performance followed by TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
and Mercy Me among other artists. He and his wife, Jennifer, their sons, Josiah and Samuel, reside in Zionsville.