Palmetto's Chris Smith signs with St. Louis Rams

Never Give Up. Don’t ever give up.

No words ring more true for defensive back Chris Smith, whose life has taken a 360 degree turn in the last week.

The Palmetto High product signed a contract with the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday and is at their facility waiting for training camp to open on Saturday.

Last week Smith came home from Omaha, Nebraska after the United Football League closed operations. He was with the Omaha Nighthawks and figured big in their plans to play cornerback and return kicks.

Less than a week later, Smith got a call from the Rams, offering him a free agent contract and invited him to their camp. It was a surprise because the two teams that previously showed him the most interest were the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets.

“My agent had never heard anything from St. Louis. I wasn’t expecting an offer from them,” Smith said. “But now that I am here I want to take advantage of this opportunity and do my best to earn a spot on the team. We will see what happens.”

Palmetto's Chris Smith hopes to land with NFL team

Chris Smith has come a long way since his high school days at Palmetto, earning a scholarship to Northern Illinois after going the junior college route.

Now the 5-10, 186 pound defensive back hopes to take another leap and make to the NFL.
Smith is trying to become another Manatee County standout who made his way into the NFL as a cornerback joining Mike Jenkins (Southeast), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Lakewood Ranch) and Fabian Washington (Bayshore).

NFL Draft Scout says if Smith makes it into an NFL camp he will likely go as a free agent. The organization rates him 51st out of more than 200 cornerbacks eligible for this year’s draft; if there is one pending the outcome of negotiations between the players association and owners.

Smith was selected to the 2010 All Mid-American Conference First Team Defense and was named NIU’s Defensive Back of the Year. He had a team high nine pass break-ups, which was third in the league and picked off three passes.

Smith played at Highland Community College where he was ranked the 49th best JUCO prospect in the country. One scouting report lists him as a strong tackler who has the talent to make an NFL team. NFL Draft Scout puts his 40-yard dash time around the 4.53 second mark.