Fresno State Athletics
Clifton Smith Named to NFL Pro Bowl
12/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 16, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - After entertaining fans at Bulldog Stadium with dazzling runs for touchdowns, former Fresno State star Clifton Smith showed the fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers why he was such a special player for the Bulldogs as he was named to the NFL Pro Bowl in his rookie season.
Smith is the second rookie in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl and the first Buccaneer ever to make the Pro Bowl the same season that he entered the league as an undrafted free agent. He is the fourth Buccaneer Pro Bowler who began his NFL career as an undrafted player, joining cornerback Wayne Haddix (1990), linebacker Shelton Quarles (2002) and quarterback Jeff Garcia (2007).
"I am extremely humbled by the selection and it is a great accomplishment, but we have a lot of our season remaining that hopefully includes the playoffs and the ultimate goal of playing in the Super Bowl in Tampa," said Smith. "I wish I could share the Pro Bowl experience with all of my teammates because all of the credit goes to them. I am really at a loss for words...to come in as an undrafted free agent and be selected to the Pro Bowl is just an incredible honor."
While Smith is a running back like Dunn, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl as a return specialist. He is the first Buccaneer to make the all-star game at that appearance. The only other specialists to earn a Pro Bowl nod in Buccaneer history were kicker Martin Gramatica (2000), punter Josh Bidwell (2005) and long-snapper Dave Moore (2006). Now that Smith has erased that blank from Tampa Bay's all-time Pro Bowl roster, the only two positions at which the team has never had an all-star are offensive tackle and special teamer (i.e. kickoff and punt coverage man). Smith is the only player in the NFL this year to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown.
He is just the second rookie in franchise history to make it to the Pro Bowl. The first was one of Smith's current teammates, running back Warrick Dunn, who was chosen in his debut 1997 campaign.
Smith was Fresno State's 2007 team MVP and he is a local product from Fresno, Calif., who prepped at Edison High School.
He is Fresno State's career punt return leader as he returns 16 punts for 419 yards, good for an average of 26.2 yards a return. He also had three returns for touchdowns. In 2007, he returns two punts for touchdowns.
"We are thrilled that Clifton was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "He is an extremely hard worker and an excellent person. He represented Fresno State well and we look forward to following his career in the NFL for years to come."
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