'Scoop' and Score

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"Don't judge somebody by their size." – Chuck Martin

One of the most exciting players in college football also just happens to be the shortest player in the country.

His name is Scoop Smith.

He's 5-foot-5. Scoop Smith at Pittsburgh

And every time he touches the football, he's a threat to score a touchdown.

But if you've seen a Miami Football game this year, you probably know that already.

It was evident from the very first kickoff of the season, which Smith returned 55 yards into Pittsburgh territory while making his collegiate debut in his hometown.

It became even more apparent the next week, when Smith came flying off the edge to block a Holy Cross punt that turned into a Miami touchdown for Leo Colombi.

In week three, Smith found the end zone himself, taking the opening kick back 98 yards to pay dirt against Cincinnati.

What about touchdown catches? The first-year wide receiver got one of those seven days later against UConn for his first Yager Stadium score.

Another day, another highlight.

"I'm a playmaker," Smith said. "That's what got me here...

"When I have the ball, I just think 'end zone'...Their plan is to keep me out of the end zone, and my plan is to get there...

"I don't really think too much; I play off of reaction. But when I get the ball, I'm thinking, 'Let's go score.'"

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When a breakout star explodes onto the scene like Scoop Smith has over the past month or so, some obvious questions might come to mind. Let's run down a few FAQs, along with the answers, for the curious among us.

1. How fast is Scoop, really?

2. How tall is Scoop, really?

3. And of course, the one thing everyone wants to know: Where did he get the name 'Scoop'?

Drumroll, please...

As to question number one: "Pretty fast," Smith smiled. "My 40 [time] in high school was a 4.34, but that was my junior year...I would hope I got a little faster." A three-sport prep standout, Smith won back-to-back WPIAL titles in the 100-meter dash —'I think my biggest highlights probably come from track', he explained— while also scoring 1,164 points in basketball (and earning a Division I hardwood offer in the process).

"I'm small for football, so just imagine for basketball!," Smith laughed.

On to question number two, where we'll let head coach Chuck Martin weigh in.

"He's listed at 5-5 in the program – we all know that you're not as tall as you are in the program," Martin told reporters recently before elaborating on the rookie speedster's ability and what sets him apart.

"Scoop showed how explosive he is and how he just kind of floats around the football field," Martin said.

"You look at this person that's not the biggest of stature, and then you meet him and [see] his heart and his confidence and his brain and his legs...even if he grows three inches, he'll still be short.

"There's a lot of short people out there that do amazing things. When I first met him, [Scoop] talked to me about, 'It's an advantage because I get in behind people and they can't see me.' I'm like, 'This guy thinks being this small in stature is an advantage! What a great outlook – could we all have that approach to life, that everything's a positive?...'People could see me if I was bigger, and then I dart out there.'...That mindset he has is very rare and very refreshing.

"In this world, [there's] a lot of negativity. That kid has no negativity in his body!"

"I always tell people there's pros and cons to everything," Smith commented. "There's pros and cons to being tall, and there's pros and cons to being small. I look at it as, 'My pros outweigh my cons,' so I think it's an advantage in a lot of ways.

"Yes, there are things that a 6-5 player can do that I can't, but there are things I can do that a 6-5 player can't. Scoop Smith in Cincinnati

"I'm 5'5, I'm the smallest football player in college, but I don't really look at that. I'm Scoop Smith, I'm a playmaker, and people can look at me however they want or call me whatever they want, but I'm going to go out there and play every Saturday."

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That brings us to question number three – the source of Scoop Smith's lifelong nickname. The freshman gets animated when answering this particular query, which makes perfect sense as he explains that the origin of the 'Scoop' moniker is actually...an animated television show.

"My brother's favorite show before I was born was 'Bob the Builder,' and his favorite character on the show was Scoop," Smith said. "So he was calling me that, saying that's what he wanted my name to be.

"And then, [after] I was born, it was the first name that I answered to. Since then, my parents call me Scoop. I've never been called by my real name – just Scoop.

"I love it," Smith continued. "It's different. It's unique. And I like standing out any way possible, so I think it's something that makes me stand out for sure."

On the gridiron, Smith has also stood out for his production, averaging 78 all-purpose yards per game and getting a variety of touches, from screen passes to kick returns to trick plays.

"How do we take advantage of the fact that he's a really good player?", said Martin. "That's obviously one thing you do with any dynamic guy like Scoop...if [a guy has] a skill set, then you say, 'How can we effectively use that skill set in different ways?'...

"This guy's willing to do anything to help this football team. First week, it was Scoop returning a kick. Second week, it was Scoop blocking a kick..."

"I'm a whatever-I-can-do-to-help-the-team-win type of guy," Smith agreed. "Seeing how I can impact the game in different ways is exciting...doing everything I can to help win the game is big for me."

That's what Smith envisioned as a recruit, and it's come to fruition so far in his freshman season. "Coming on my visit, they showed me videos of people that played here that were small and how they used them, and then they showed me my film and how we do similar things," Smith recalled. "They showed me how they could use me here, and since I've been here, that's how they've used me.

Scoop Smith vs. UConn

"Ultimately, I think [choosing Miami] was a very good decision."

And while Smith has been a big-play threat seemingly every time he's gotten his hands on the football since joining the Red and White, this human highlight reel expects even more of himself than what the Miami faithful has seen and enjoyed through five games.

"I feel like I could have [done] a little more," Smith said after the Holy Cross win when asked about his performance to date. He elaborated on that premise in a recent interview as he reflected on the non-conference portion of the schedule.

"The fans might not notice, but there's a whole bunch of opportunities out there that I've missed on," said Smith. "I only have two touchdowns by myself, but I honestly should have about four or five...there's certain plays that are really good looks where you end up wide open...

"Against UConn, I had nine targets and six catches, and the three balls I didn't catch were all home run plays...I'm just [trying to] take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way..."

"I'm very confident when I'm out there. I know what I'm supposed to do...I know the work that I put in. I know the sacrifices I've made.

"So hopefully I can just keep getting better, keep playing more snaps, and then keep making more plays for Miami Football." Scoop Smith vs. Holy Cross

The potential of even more explosive plays from No. 24 in the weeks to come is appealing, especially in a stretch for Miami where each of the past three games have been decided by four points or less. And as the RedHawks look to bounce back this Saturday in Massachusetts from a last-second loss to Bowling Green and continue their pursuit of a fourth-straight MAC Championship Game appearance, the shortest player on the roster isn't the least bit overwhelmed by the tall task at hand.

Instead, Smith said his faith helps him maintain perspective on the overall experience through the inevitable ups and downs of a football season.

"I was just talking to my brother the other day, that I'm living in a reality that I used to dream of," Smith said. "It's crazy: When I was younger, I used to dream to go to Division I. I used to dream to play in big atmospheres...then to actually be playing in it and to be making plays in those types of games? Now I'm living that dream...

"It's just a blessing, and I'm extremely grateful."

Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures

Scoop Smith and the RedHawks travel to UMass this Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. before returning to host Akron in a Family Weekend showdown on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. at Yager Stadium. Both games will stream on ESPN+. Tickets to the contest against the Zips are available for purchase here.

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