Vitamin Smith

Rushing yards	669
Receiving yards	1,025
Kick return yards	1,453
Punt return yards	814
Total touchdowns	23
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Vitamin Smith
	Smith on a 1952 Bowman football card
No. 77, 47
Position	Halfback
Personal information
Born	October 30, 1923; Sweetwater, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 14, 2000 (aged 76); Lake Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight	179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school	Sweetwater; Ventura (CA);
College	Abilene Christian (1946–1948)
NFL draft	1949: undrafted
Career history
	Los Angeles Rams (1949–1953);
Awards and highlights
	NFL champion (1951); NFL kickoff return yards leader (1950);
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards
Rushing yards	669
Receiving yards	1,025
Kick return yards	1,453
Punt return yards	814
Total touchdowns	23
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Verda T. "Vitamin" Smith Jr. (October 30, 1923 – February 14, 2000) was a National Football League (NFL) running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949 through 1953.

Smith served in the United States Army and participated in the Battle of Normandy before enrolling at Abilene Christian University where he sprinted, threw javelin and played college football for the Wildcats.^[1] In the NFL, Smith was a return specialist. In 1950, he set a record by returning three kicks for touchdowns in a single season. That record would stand until 1967.^[2]

Verda T. Smith married Myra Pearce, daughter of Mr. and Mr.s Herman F. Pearce, in Ventura, California on August 15, 1946. He was a student at Abilene Christian College at the time.^[3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the NFL championship
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1949	RAM	12	4	40	117	2.9	26	2	5	63	12.6	24	1
1950	RAM	12	4	51	250	4.9	25	1	16	279	17.4	67	4
1951	RAM	12	9	52	143	2.8	31	1	16	278	17.4	67	1
1952	RAM	12	10	57	133	2.3	20	3	16	254	15.9	56	3
1953	RAM	11	3	8	26	3.3	21	0	6	151	25.2	54	3
		59	30	208	669	3.2	31	7	59	1,025	17.4	67	12

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1949	RAM	1	1	6	11	1.8	-	0	2	11	5.5	-	0
1950	RAM	2	2	7	23	3.3	15	0	4	81	20.3	38	0
1951	RAM	1	0	9	15	1.7	8	0	1	18	18.0	18	0
1952	RAM	1	1	4	-8	-2.0	2	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
		5	4	26	41	1.6	15	0	7	110	15.7	38	0

References

↑ Hadfield, Ron (February 3, 2016). "Wildcats are witnesses to NFL title history". ACU Today. Abilene Christian University. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
↑ "Standout Ram Kick Returner Vitamin T. Smith Dead at 76". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 16, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
↑ "Ventura County Star 17 Aug 1946, page 3 - Newspapers.com". Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2024.

[1] Hadfield, Ron (February 3, 2016). "Wildcats are witnesses to NFL title history". ACU Today. Abilene Christian University. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2019.

[2] "Standout Ram Kick Returner Vitamin T. Smith Dead at 76". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 16, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2019.

[3] "Ventura County Star 17 Aug 1946, page 3 - Newspapers.com". Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]