Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith, a former American football running back, played 15 seasons in the National Football League. He is the leagues all-time leading rusher. Born in Pensacola, Florida, Emmitt discovered his passion for football at the age of eight when he played his first game on a team sponsored by the Salvation Army. In high school, he rushed for 8,804 yards, scoring 106 touchdowns. Despite his success in high school, college scouts thought he was to small and slow for college ball. However, Smith silenced their doubts when he joined the University of Florida, eventually ranking as their 3rd all-time best player during the university's first 100 years of their football program. He left college early to join the Dallas Cowboys, eventually becoming one of the NFL's leading rushers. Mr. Smith is a devout Christian and is thankful for his God given talent: "Thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for blessing me with the talent to play the sport that I so dearly loved for almost three decades."