Charles Smith (American football)

Charles Harlin "Rabbit" Smith (March 13, 1924 – December 10, 2013) was an American football back who played one season with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 16th round of the 1947 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia and attended Palatka High School in Palatka, Florida.[2] He was nicknamed Rabbit for his speed.[3]

Charles Smith
No. 19
Position:Back
Personal information
Born:(1924-03-13)March 13, 1924
Aldrich, Missouri
Died:December 10, 2013(2013-12-10) (aged 89)
East Palatka, Florida
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:168 lb (76 kg)
Career information
High school:Palatka (FL)
College:Georgia
NFL Draft:1947 / Round: 16 / Pick: 142
Career history
As player:
  • Chicago Cardinals (1947)
As coach:
  • Madison County High School (1948–1949)
    Head coach
  • Palatka High School (1950)
    Assistant coach
  • Palatka High School (1951–1962)
    Head coach
  • Florida (1963–1970)
    Head recruiter & running backs coach
  • Eastside High School (1971–1980)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Smith played high school football as a two-way back at Palatka High School. He was also a catcher and middle infielder on the baseball team, a forward in basketball and a jumper, sprinter and relay man in track. He graduated in 1943.[4]

College career

Smith played college football and baseball for the Georgia Bulldogs.[4]

Professional career

Smith was selected by the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL with the 142nd pick in the 1947 NFL Draft and signed with the team on March 2, 1947.[2][5] He played in seven games for the Cardinals during the 1947 season.[2] He was released by the Cardinals on May 21, 1948.[1]

Coaching career

Smith was the head football coach at Madison County High School in Madison County, Georgia from 1948 to 1949.[1] He served as an assistant coach at Palatka High School in 1950 and then the team's head coach from 1951 to 1962.[1][6] He was the head recruiter and running backs coach for the Florida Gators from 1963 to 1970.[1][4] Smith served as the head coach of Eastside High School in Gainesville, Florida from 1971 to 1980 and won three championships.[1][4] He retired after the 1980 season.[4]

References
  1. "Charles Harlin 'Rabbit' Smith". oldestlivingprofootball.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. "CHARLIE SMITH". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  3. Cromie, Robert (December 20, 1947). "Here's What Makes Cards A Hot Deck". Chicago Tribune. p. 23. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  4. "In Memory of Charles Harlin "Rabbit" Smith". johnsonoverturffunerals.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. "Smith of Georgia Signed by Cardinals". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. March 3, 1947. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. Kahn, Bernard (October 21, 1958). "Rabbit Smith Is Turning Out Top Maroon Teams". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
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