Blue Bombers sign Hugh Smith
September 14, 2004 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release
WINNIPEG, MB â The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today added a speedster to their practice roster with the signing of Hugh Smith.
Smith (5-8, 165, South Florida '02, DOB: May 8, 1979 in Merritt Island, FL) joins the Big Blue after stints with the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, and a short time with the Cologne Centurions of NFL-Europe.
THE NFL YEARS â CLEVELAND BROWNS â 2004
The Cleveland Browns signed Smith as a free agent Feb. 4, 2004 and immediately allocated him to the Cologne Centurions of NFL-Europe.
After returning from Europe, Smith attended the Browns mini camp, only to be released at its conclusion.
THE NFL-EUROPE YEARS â COLOGNE CENTURIONS â 2004
Smith attended the Centurions training camp but was released at its conclusion.
THE NFL YEARS â BALTIMORE RAVENS â 2003
The Baltimore Ravens signed Smith as an undrafted rookie free agent, May. 9, 2003. He attended the Ravens training camp that year and made the practice squad. Shortly after that, he got hurt and the Ravens placed him on their injured roster for the remainder of the 2003 campaign.
THE COLLEGE YEARS â SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
Smith was a four-year star with the University of South Florida Bulls. He played with future Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Anthony Williams and with present day Blue & Gold safety Joe Morgan.
Smith was initially recruited as a runningback by South Florida but switched to wide receiver in his sophomore season. He led the Bulls in receiving his last three seasons.
Smith led the Bulls in receptions his senior year, hauling in 62 passes for 661 yards and five touchdowns. He had another 84 yards on five carries on reverses. He was also a special teams standout, averaging 29.2-yard averages on kickoff returns.
Smith, who posted times as low as 4.34 seconds in 40-yard dash, had 40 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. As a sophomore, he led the team with 24 catches for 324 yards and a score.
Smith played primarily at tailback in his rookie season, carrying the football 38 times for 134 yards and a touchdown.
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Canadian Football League Stories from September 14, 2004
- Food Bank wins big with the Eskimos - Edmonton Elks
- Renegades ink Holmes to practice roster deal - Ottawa Renegades
- Blue Bombers sign Hugh Smith - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- A.J. Gass earns CFL Defensive Player of the Week honours - Edmonton Elks
- Charles Roberts named CFL Player of the Week - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Tom Canada named CFL Player of the Week - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Esks add four to offense - Edmonton Elks
- McCallum picks up weekly award - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CFL names players of the week - CFL
- Argos add two NFL vets to roster - Toronto Argonauts
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