Auburn H-back Eric Smith has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules, a school spokesman confirmed tonight. No further details were available.Smith, who would have been a senior, had a rocky career with the Tigers, marred by an arrest for third-degree assault in August of 2009 after he allegedly knocked a fellow student unconscious with a punch to the back of the head during a fight outside an area hotel.
Smith, who was suspended for one game for the incident, was later granted youthful offender status. He served an academic suspension for the Outback Bowl following the 2009 season but returned to be a key member of the Tigers' 2010 national championship team.
Although he had only one carry and caught 5 passes for 49 yards, he was also one of the team's top blockers, playing in all 14 games and staring five.
Smith finished his career with 182 rushing yards and one touchdown in addition to 25 receptions for 278 yards and another score.
Although he was never a big ballcarrier, Smith's departure further diminishes Auburn's backfield numbers. Mike Dyer and Onterio McCalebb are the only returning scholarship running backs. They'll be joined by incoming freshman Tre Mason this summer. Rising junior Anthony Morgan might also be at tailback.
Auburn might also consider keeping 290-pound redshirt freshman Ladarious Phillips in the backfield. The Tigers experimented with him at defensive tackle before the bowl game.
10 comments:
I hear he may have surpassed the max number of failed drug tests allowed by the coaching staff. Luckily Mike hasn't gotten there yet. I'm an Auburn fan, not a Bammer...but this worries me.
Good luck in your future , E
So sad. So talented and I know the coaches gave him every opportunity in the world. I hope he can get his life together, and I appreciate everything he's done for AU. What about PP-L?
I thought PPL was good to go. AB?
Haven't heard anything about PPL.
This is the bum that kicked the oregon player in the faxe when his helmet came off in the BCS national championship. Trust me Auburn doesnt need this guy. Nothing but trouble.
I agree with Anon. This guy was a problem child ever since he arrived at Auburn.
So sad that he gave up the best opportunity and that was an education paid for. He will learn like may of us the hard way.
Noone "kicked" him off the team. He was dismissed.
You learn that like Mays said I never look back someone might be gaining on me. There is always someone ready to take your spot in sports.
Post a Comment