Players

Pro Career
Selected to the 2009 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl… Became the first Buccaneers kick returner ever selected to the Pro Bowl… Just the second rookie in team history to make the annual all-star game, joining RB Warrick Dunn in 1997… Also joined Everson Walls (1981) and Rufus Porter (1988) as the only undrafted rookie free agents to make the Pro Bowl since 1970… Also earned All-NFC honors at punt returner by PFW/PFWA and was a second-team AP All-Pro selection as a kick returner… Garnered PFW/PFWA All-Rookie honors as a punt returner…Became the second player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown with his 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Kansas City (11/2/08)… The 97-yard return was the longest kickoff return in franchise history (and was equaled by Sammie Stroughter in 2009)… His 259 total return yards (232 kickoff return yards and 27 punt return yards) at Kansas City (11/2/08) set a franchise record for the most return yards by an individual in a single game… With his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown at Detroit (11/23/08), became the first Buccaneer since 2004 to record a punt return for a touchdown… Became the first player in franchise history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown… Played in 20 career games and has 12 carries for 47 yards and six receptions for 28 yards… Also has 46 punt returns for 556 yards (12.1 avg.) and one touchdown and 67 kickoff returns for 1,894 yards (28.3 avg.) and one touchdown and 14 special teams tackles… Activated from the practice squad on October 25, 2008… Signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2008… Released by the Buccaneers on August 31, 2008… Signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2008.

Pervious Seasons
2009: Played in 11 of first 12 games (all but vs. New England) before being placed on Injured Reserve on December 8… Ranked second in the NFL in kickoff return average (29.1) and 10th in the NFL and fifth in the NFC in punt return average (10.1) at time of injury… Led Tampa Bay in both kickoff return yardage (902) and punt return yardage (232)… Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 9 against Green Bay… Returned four kickoffs for 101 yards and three punts for 27 yards against Dallas (9/13)… Added one carry for four yards and one reception for three yards… Totaled a game-high 111 yards on four kickoff returns at Buffalo (9/20)… Added one punt return for five yards and one reception for one yard… Had two kickoff returns for 56 yards and three punt returns for 41 yards against N.Y. Giants (9/27)… Tallied a game-high 62 yards on two kickoff returns and added nine yards on two punt returns at Washington (10/4)… Also rushed twice against the Redskins… Totaled a game-high 120 yards on four kickoff returns and 27 yards on three punt returns at Philadelphia (10/11)… Returned one kickoff for 25 yards and one punt for six yards against Carolina (10/18) before leaving the game with an injury… Inactive against New England (10/25) because of injury… Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week against Green Bay (11/8) as he produced a game-high 107 yards on two kickoff returns, including an 83-yard return in the fourth quarter, to help Tampa Bay rally from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit… The 83-yard return was the fifth-longest in team history… Added four punt returns for 54 yards, one rushing attempt and three special teams tackles… Totaled 202 return yards at Miami (11/15) on six kickoff returns for 171 yards and four punt returns for 31 yards… Had four kickoff returns for 106 yards and one punt return for 11 yards against New Orleans (11/22)… Returned two kickoffs for 43 yards and one punt for 21 yards at Atlanta (11/29)… Saw action on opening kickoff at Carolina (12/6) before leaving the game because of injury… Placed on Injured Reserve on December 8.

2008: Played in nine games (all but at New Orleans, vs. Atlanta, at Chicago, vs. Green Bay, at Denver, vs. Carolina and vs. Seattle)… Ranked fifth in the NFL and second in the NFC with a 27.6 kickoff return average… Ranked second in the NFL and first in the NFC with a 14.1 punt return average… Only player in the NFL to have a punt return for a touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2008… Name NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November… Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 9… Had eight carries for 40 yards and four receptions for 24 yards… Also had 23 punt returns for 324 yards (14.1 avg.) and one touchdown and 36 kickoff returns for 992 yards (27.6 avg.) and one touchdown and had eight special teams tackles… His 992 kickoff return yards is the fourth-highest single-season total in franchise history… His 1,316 total returns yards (992 kickoff return yards and 324 punt return yards) ranks second in team history for the most total return yards in a single-season… Saw reserve action in NFL debut at Dallas (10/26) and had one reception for 13 yards, five punt returns for 82 yards (16.4 avg.), three kickoff returns for 62 yards and one special teams tackle… Was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week as he became the second player in team history to return a kickoff for a touchdown with a 97-yard touchdown return at Kansas City (11/2)… Finished the game with three carries for 17 yards, one reception for three yards, two punt returns for 27 yards and six kickoff returns for 232 yards and a touchdown… Also had one special teams tackle… The 97-yard kickoff return was also the longest kickoff return in team history... The 259 total return yards (232 kickoff return yards and 27 punt return yards) set a franchise record for the most return yards in a single game… Saw reserve action vs. Minnesota (11/16) and had four carries for 21 yards and one reception… Also had two kickoff returns for 48 yards and four special teams tackles… Saw reserve action at Detroit (11/23) and had four punt returns for 90 yards, including a touchdown, and five kickoff returns for 142 yards, including a long of 49 yards… With his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, became the first Buccaneer since 2004 to record a punt return for a touchdown… Became the first player in franchise history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown… Also had one special teams tackle… Saw reserve action vs. New Orleans (11/30) and had five punt returns for 82 yards (16.4 avg.), including a long of 42 yards, and three kickoff returns for 76 yards… Saw reserve action at Carolina (12/8) and had three kickoff returns for 77 yards and one punt return… Saw reserve action at Atlanta (12/14) and had four kickoff returns for 72 yards and three punt returns for 16 yards… Also had one special teams tackle… Saw reserve action vs. San Diego (12/21) and had seven kickoff returns for 205 yards (29.3 avg.), including a 72-yard return that set up a one-yard touchdown run by FB B.J. Askew… Also had one carry for two yards, one reception for nine yards and one punt return for eight yards… Saw reserve action vs. Oakland (12/28) and had three kickoff returns for 78 yards and two punt returns for 16 yards.

College Career
Played in 35 career games for the Bulldogs… Finished career with 630 rushing yards on 102 carries (6.2 avg.) with five touchdowns and 34 receptions for 368 yards… Also registered 47 career punt returns for 782 yards with five touchdowns and 10 kickoff returns for 182 yards… Converted from cornerback to running back in the spring of 2005... Prior to position switch, recorded one interception and six tackles in 2004… Had a breakout senior campaign, totaling 625 rushing yards on 100 carries with five touchdowns and 33 receptions for 352 yards… In 2005, set an NCAA record against Weber State with three punt returns for 189 yards and two touchdowns... Majored in communications.

Personal
Visited St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to participate in the annual “Doctor for a Day” event and to fulfill a patient’s wish of meeting a Buccaneer through the Children’s Dream Fund in March 2009… Went bowling with children from the NFL YET Centers at the NFL Charities Youth Bowling Clinic during 2009 Super Bowl week… Joined teammate Phillip Buchanon and other NFL players by participating in fitness drills at Roland Park Elementary School at the NFL Play 60 Character Breakfast during 2009 Super Bowl week… As a member of the 2008 Buccaneers Rookie Club, coached local youth at the Rookie Club Football Camp, hosted an exclusive movie screening of “The Express” for underserved children, sorted and distributed food at Metropolitan Ministries, visited patients at All Children’s Hospital and sang Christmas carols for residents at Westminster Palms Nursing Home in St. Petersburg... Along with teammates Geno Hayes and Byron Storer, spoke to students at Liberty Middle School in January 2009 about the importance of physical activity and sound nutrition during the Buccaneers and American Heart Association “What Moves U” fitness rally… Participated in the Buccaneers’ 2008 Halloween Celebration at the Lowry Park Zoo, enjoying arts, crafts and rides with children from local non-profit organizations… Ran football drills with Special Olympic athletes during 2008 training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports… Son of Roxanne Wright and Clifton Smith, Sr…. Has two sisters, Nichole and Brianna Smith... Is the nephew of former NFL S Tim McDonald… Led Edison High School (Fresno, CA) to the Valley title, earning league MVP honors... Rushed for 1,378 yards and 27 touchdowns... Totaled more than 300 receiving yards and two touchdown catches... Rated as the nation's 34th-best high school athlete prospect by Rivals.com... Had 80 tackles, eight interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and three sacks on defense... Selected all-state and named to the Fresno Bee's All-Star Defensive Team… Born Clifton Smith, Jr. on July 4, 1985 in Fresno, California.