The cousin of the Chicago Bears safety Mike Brown, Smith has been a versatile performer for the Cardinals. He was bothered by injury problems earlier in his career, but showed flashes of brilliance during the stretches he was healthy. When Louisville lost starter Michael Bush in the 2006 season opener due to a broken leg, the coaching staff was very confident that Smith could fill that void. He went on to lead the team in rushing, keeping one of college football's most explosive offenses in the Bowl Championship Series picture.

Smith excelled on the football field and in the classroom at Rickards High School. He was a four-time Honor Roll member and earned a three-star rating while being ranked as the nation's 10th-best all-purpose back by TheInsiders.com.

He earned first team All-Big Bend Area honors and was also named a Big Bend Area Super Six Senior, in addition to being nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. He garnered running back MVP honors at the 2002 Tuscaloosa Nike Camp and earned team MVP, first-team All-District and honorable mention All-State honors during his junior and senior years. Smith was selected to play in the Cali/Florida All-Star game.

Smith tallied more than 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing as a senior. He played on both sides of the ball as a junior, notching 105 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles while also rushing for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns on 88 carries. Smith started at fullback as a sophomore, blocking for All-American running back Michael Fisher, who ran for more than 2,000 yards and 30 scores. He also logged 533 yards and eight scores on 30 carries as a sophomore. The two-sport star also finished ninth at the state track meet in the 110 high hurdles as a junior.

Smith enrolled at Louisville in 2003, appearing in 12 games as a reserve tailback. He rushed 18 times for 131 yards (7.3 avg) and one touchdown. He also recorded four tackles (two solos) on special teams and caught three passes for 51 yards (17.0 avg). In 2004, he was limited to only 10 games due to a right hamstring strain. He totaled 347 yards with four touchdowns on 37 attempts, leading the team with a 9.4-yard average. He also snared 11 passes for 117 yards (10.6 avg) and a score.

As a junior, Smith missed the Memphis and West Virginia games with a right knee sprain. He started three of 10 contests he appeared in, finishing third on the team with 523 yards and six touchdowns on 107 rushes (4.9 avg). He caught 18 passes for 196 yards (10.9 avg) and a score while adding three tackles (two solos) on the coverage units.

With Bush injured in the season opener, Smith took over tailback duties in 2006, starting nine of 12 games. The NFL Draft Report's second-team All-Big East Conference pick led the team with a career-high 780 yards on 138 carries (5.7 avg) with seven touchdowns. He also ranked fourth on the team with 183 yards on 22 catches (8.3 avg).

In 44 games at Louisville, Smith started 14 times. He carried the ball 300 times for 1,781 yards (5.9 avg) and 18 touchdowns. He added 547 yards and two scores on 54 receptions (10.1 avg). Smith also recorded seven tackles (four solos).

Positives: Has an even proportioned frame with good upper body muscle tone and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk and shows very good quickness, balance and agility … Has thick legs, a tight waist and loose hips with minimal body fat, showing the low center of gravity to run at a proper pad level when taking plays to the outside … Attacks the outside rush lanes with good urgency and keeps his pad level down and legs churning to finish his runs and gain positive yardage … His low center of gravity and quick feet allow him to drive hard in attempts to turn the corner and reach top acceleration while attacking the second level … Demonstrates that sharp cutting ability to elude when running along the perimeter … Comes out of his stance smoothly and easily, showing the vision to quickly locate the rushing lanes … Possesses the hip snap to redirect and the pad level to run low to the ground … Demonstrates quick plant agility and the burst to run away from defenders when turning the corner … Despite his speed, Smith is smart and patient enough to let his blocks develop … Has good vision and field awareness, showing good balance and a feel for the cutback lanes, where he excels at picking and sliding to the outside … Can turn the corner fluidly while maintaining balance and likes to bounce wide, knowing he has the speed to run away from the slower defenders … His cutting agility is precise and he can reach the corner with good forward body lean … Has naturally soft hands and good reach to look the ball in as a receiver … Does a good job of securing the ball outside his frame and shows good concentration to track the ball in flight … It is rare to see him use his body to catch a pass and he has dropped the ball only twice during his last two seasons … Has a great burst after the catch and good plant-and-drive agility as a cutback runner.

Negatives: More of a one-cut runner, but he demonstrates adequate lateral agility and slide to redirect … Keeps his balance turning the corners, but sometimes gets too high in his stance when squeezing through tight quarters … Despite his work in the weight room, he will need to bulk up a bit and improve his adequate overall strength … Earlier in his career, he had a bit of a hitch step in his lateral movement, but he now shows better suddenness and cutting/juke agility to gain advantage … Has adequate weight room strength, but he tends to get a bit high in his stance when driving the ball up the middle … Lacks the leg drive to consistently break tackles and will need to increase his strength if he hopes to get consistent carries at the next level … Can be pushed back through the rush lanes when taking on low blocks, as he does not show the side-stepping agility or lower body strength to power through tackles in tight areas … Can elude with his burst and explosion, but lacks an array of moves or hip wiggle to be considered slippery with the ball in his hands … Can make the slower defenders miss with his speed, but needs to show more shake-and-bake moves to set up the opponent … For a player of his size and muscular build, you would expect him to be more physical in attempts to break tackles … Runs at a better pad level turning the corner and can run through arm tackles there, but when he has to take the ball up the middle he lacks the strength to bleed extra yardage (needs to drop his shoulder and hit it up with more power to gain additional yardage upon initial contact) … Used mostly on screens, dump-offs and controlled routes because he lacks precision in and out of his breaks … Must be more conscious of hand placement in attempts to mirror as an in-line blocker and must be more aggressive in his approach to locate and neutralize second level defenders … Can step up and pick up the blitz, but vs. a strong bull rush he can be pushed back into the pocket.

Compares To: LADELL BETTS-Washington … Like Betts, Smith has made a career at being a complimentary back in a team's rotation. He is capable of filling in for long stretches, but needs to improve his overall strength in order to be more consistent as an inside runner. Despite being built like a power back, he relies more on his speed as a perimeter runner to gain valid yardage rather than use his adequate strength to punch the ball up the middle.

Ranks 12th in school history with 1,781 yards rushing, becoming the 23rd player in Louisville annals to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a career … His average of 5.9 yards per rushing attempt rank third on the school's all-time record list behind Tom Lucia (7.4 avg, 1947-50) and Lenny Lyles (7.0 avg, 1954-57) … His average of 9.4 yards per carry in 2004 was the highest average of any Cardinals runner in a season at Louisville.

All-Big East Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report … Listed second on the depth chart at tailback entering the year, Kolby took over the starting chores in nine contests after Michael Bush was lost for the campaign after breaking his leg in the season opener … Smith ended up sharing playing time with George Stripling, but Kolby still managed to lead the team with a career-high 780 yards on 138 carries (5.7 avg) with seven touchdowns … Also ranked fourth on the squad with 22 receptions for 183 yards (8.3 avg) … Gained 963 all-purpose yards, an average of 80.25 yards per game … 41 of Smith's 138 carries produced first downs … He converted 4-of-17 third-down plays and 2-of-3 fourth downs … 24 of his runs were good for ten yards or longer, including seven for at least 20 yards … Had critical runs that set up fifteen touchdown drives … Was tackled twelve times behind the line of scrimmage and had eleven runs that resulted in no gain … Carried seventeen times inside the red zone, with ten of those attempts coming on goal-line plays.

Kentucky … Smith saw most of his action in the second half of the season opener when starter Michael Bush suffered a broken leg. Kolby responded with twelve carries for 66 yards with two runs for over 10 yards each, but failed to convert any of three third-down plays. He also gained 14 yards on two catches … He kept a fourth quarter drive alive with a 3-yard gain off left end on a fourth-&-1 run … On the team's next drive, he had a 14-yard reception and a 13-yard gain running over right tackle … Asked about the loss of Michael Bush, Kolby replied, "I look at it as an opportunity, I know I have to do everything that I can to help the team win. The coaches said that Stripling and I had to carry the team. We know the receivers and the line are going to do their job so we have to carry the running game." … Head to Head Competition-MLB#56-Braxton Kelley-Two solo tackles, a 3-yard sack.

Temple … Taking over the starting tailback chores, Smith rushed seven times for 86 yards and a touchdown while snaring two passes for 21 yards. Four of his runs produced first downs, with three of them gaining at least ten yards … He capped a 4-play, 65-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, setting up that score with a 13-yard gain off left end on the previous play in the first quarter … His 9-yard catch, followed by a 28-yard gain on a third-&-1 run set up Kurt Quarterman's 1-yard scoring plunge that finished a 76-yard, 12-play drive in the second quarter … Kolby then had carries for 5 and 32 yards to set up George Stripling's 3-yard touchdown run that ended a 7-play, 94-yard drive with 2:47 left in the first half … Head to Head Competition-MLB#44-Walter Mebrane-Seven tackles (2 solos).

Miami … Smith followed with 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as five of his seventeen runs produced first downs … On three consecutive plays around the left side of the line, Kolby gained 6 & 3 yards before capping the 7-play, 53-yard drive with a 4-yard scoring run on second-&-goal in the third quarter … On the team's next series, he again took the handoff on second-&-goal for a 2-yard touchdown run off left tackle … Head to Head Competition-MLB#51-Romeo Davis-One solo tackle.

Kansas State … Smith gained 63 yards on 16 carries and 33 yards on four receptions, but turned the ball over once on a fumble while failing to convert any of four third-down runs. He was tackled behind the line of scrimmage three times and held to no yardage on three other runs … On the team's first play from scrimmage, he gained 14 yards on a run off left guard, followed by a 4-yarder that set up Hunter Cantwell's 19-yard touchdown pass to Harry Douglas … He had a 19-yard catch that was downed at the KSU 7 and two plays later, George Stripling ended that 72-yard, 8-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge at the start of the second half … Smith coughed up the ball at the KSU 40 on a second-&-10 rushing attempt midway through the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-MLB#46-Brandon Archer-Nine tackles (8 solos), one stop for a 1-yard loss.

Middle Tennessee … Held to 19 yards on nine attempts, but set up a 20-yard Louisville field goal with a 14-yard reception in the second quarter and ran for a 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter … Head to Head Competition-MLB#1-Justin Rainey-Four tackles (3 solos).

Cincinnati … Continued to struggle, picking up 4 yards on only three attempts … He dropped a third-&-2 pass from Brian Brohm and then gained only one yard on a fourth-&-2 run during the team's game-opening drive … Head to Head Competition-MLB#52-Kevin McCullough-Two solo tackles, 2-yard interception return.

Syracuse … After two lackluster performances, Smith registered his first 100-yard rushing performance, totaling 165 yards with two touchdowns, producing ten first downs among his sixteen carries while also gaining 11 yards on a pair of catches … He ran up the middle for a 13-yard gain and repeated that on the next play for a 35-yard run that set up Anthony Allen's 2-yard scoring run to end an 8-play, 80-yard drive with 0:58 left in the first half … In the third quarter, Kolby converted a third-&-3 run into a 3-yard gain, followed by a 5-yard touchdown run off right tackle … He gained most of the real estate on a 93-yard, 9-play drive with runs of 4, 9, 2 & 24 yards before ending the series with a 31-yard touchdown jaunt up the middle of the field with 1:43 left on the clock … Head to Head Competition-MLB#19-Luke Cain-Six assisted tackles.

West Virginia … Smith ran thirteen times for 73 yards and made two catches for 34 yards … He had a game-long 21-yard run off right guard in the first quarter and set up Anthony Allen's fourth quarter 5-yard touchdown run with a 17-yard pickup off right tackle on the previous play … Head to Head Competition-MLB#42-Jay Henry-Four tackles (2 solos).

Rutgers … Smith registered 84 yards on 19 attempts with four first-down runs and snared three passes for 19 yards … He set up Anthony Allen's 2-yard scoring run in the first quarter with carries that netted 8 & 5 yards inside the red zone … He converted a fourth-&-3 run into a 5-yard gain, adding 10 & 9-yard rushes to set up Brian Brohm's 5-yard scoring strike to Jimmy Riley in the fourth quarter … Head to Head Competition-MLB#55-Devra Thompson-Nine tackles (3 solos), two sacks for minus 10 yards, one forced fumble, 32-yard interception return.

South Florida … Kolby amassed 50 yards on seven runs and 27 yards on three catches, but lost the ball on a first quarter grab and USF recovered it at the USF 1-yard line, killing a 67-yard, 7-play drive … He had a 21-yard gain on a run off right guard in the second quarter … A 16-yard rushing attempt that saw 15 more yards tacked on when defender Danny Verpaele grabbed Smith's face mask set up Brian Brohm's 5-yard scoring pass to Harry Douglas in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-MLB#59-Ben Moffitt-Two tackles (one solo).

Pittsburgh … Smith added 58 yards on nine tries with a touchdown and caught two passes for 3 yards, but was also penalized for an illegal block, negating a 23-yard catch by Harry Douglas late in the first quarter … He started off the game on the right foot, with a 19-yard touchdown run three minutes into the game, but he turned the ball over on a fumble during the team's next drive as Pitt's Sam Bryant recovered the errant ball at the UL 21 … Head to Head Competition-MLB#51-H.B. Blades-Ten tackles (4 solos), two stops for minus 4 yards, two pass deflections, one blocked kick.

Connecticut … In the regular season finale, Smith ran 10 times for 64 yards and had a 7-yard reception … His 16 & 8-yard gains on runs off left end in the fourth quarter set up Brian Brohm's 32-yard scoring strike to Gary Barnidge … Head to Head Competition-MLB#48-Danny Lansanah-Eight tackles (5 solos), 14-yard interception return.

Smith appeared in ten games, starting at tailback vs. Rutgers, Syracuse and Connecticut when Michael Bush was injured … Kolby missed the west Virginia and Cincinnati clashes due to a right knee medial collateral ligament sprain, but still finished third on the team with 523 yards and six touchdowns on 107 carries (4.9 avg) … Added 196 yards and a score on eighteen receptions (10.9 avg) … Also recorded three tacklers (2 solos).

Kentucky … Had twelve rushes for 75 yards and had a pair of grabs for 19 yards.

Oregon … Averaged 8.8 yards per rushing attempt, touching the ball six times for 53 yards.

South Florida … Followed with 47 yards on ten tries and 17 yards on two receptions … Also tackled Jackie Chambers on a second quarter 18-yard punt return and stopped Chambers on a 13-yard punt return after the Cardinals' next failed drive.

Florida Atlantic … Smith ran eight times for 52 yards and two scores while also catching four passes for 40 yards … He had an 18-yard run up the middle, followed by a 1-yard touchdown plunge to end a 60-yard, 5-play drive in the second quarter … In the third quarter, he caught a 21-yard sideline pass from Brian Brohm and then had goal-line runs of 2 & 3 yards to set up Brohm's 1-yard scoring run … Later in that quarter, Kolby ran for 13 yards off left end and 4 yards up the middle before capping a 6-play, 34-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run around left end.

North Carolina … Had a 19-yard reception, a solo tackle on the punt coverage unit and 23 yards on four rushes.

Pittsburgh … Gained 58 yards on fifteen attempts and 16 yards on two catches … Midway through the fourth quarter, Smith ran for 4, 15 & 4 yards up the middle, 6 yards over right tackle and then had a pair of 2-yard runs before taking a second-&-goal handoff to skip off right tackle for a 4-yard touchdown that ended a 16-play, 80-yard drive … Head to Head Competition-MLB#51-H.B. Blades-20 tackles (6 solos), one stop for a 3-yard loss, one forced fumble.

Rutgers … Smith, filling in for the injured Michael Bush, scored three touchdowns for Louisville, which won its third straight game and extended its home streak to 11 games, tied for the nation's fifth-longest. Kolby carried 17 times for 55 yards, scoring on runs of 5 yards in the first quarter that ended a 6-play, 67-yard drive and for 4 yards on a run off right end with 0:55 left in the first half … At the start of the third quarter, he caught a swing pass from Brian Brohm that Smith turned into a 9-yard score … Head to Head Competition-MLB#55-Devra Thompson-Eight tackles (7 solos), a 7-yard sack, two stops for losses.

Syracuse … Smith finished with a season-high 96 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts. He also caught four passes for 68 yards, including a 57-yard catch-and-run late in the fourth quarter that set up a 9-yard touchdown run by George Stripling to seal the win for the Cardinals … He gained 6 & 8 yards on runs off left end and 11 yards on a power option up the middle before capping 73-yard, 11-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter … Smith talked about the team's performance, after the Cardinals played with four injured starters on the sidelines, "We knew as a team that we had to come together and we came out victorious. I have a lot of confidence in Hunter (Cantwell). Since the first day of practice, he's been making the right checks and our whole team has a lot of confidence in him. We knew they (Syracuse) had a good defense. We talked a lot about number 20 (FS Anthony Smith) because we knew he was always around the ball. They've got a good defense, but as the game went on, we were able to pound and pound and make the plays at the end. It means a lot to us to keep the home winning streak alive. We knew as a team that we'd have to come together after the injury (to Brohm) and we couldn't make any more mistakes. After quarterback Brian Brohm left with his injury, Joshua Tinch was on the sidelines motivating us and making sure that everybody kept their heads up. Everybody came together and that's why we play. We knew today would be a team effort. We've got eleven men on the field and everybody must do their job. Whatever Coach Petrino calls is the play we have to execute and that's what we want to do." … Head to Head Competition-MLB#8-Kelvin Smith-Three tackles (2 solos), one interception, one pass deflection.

Connecticut … In his final start for 2005, Smith totaled 32 yards on twelve carries … Head to Head Competition-MLB#4-Taurien Sowell-Nine tackles (4 solos), one stop for a 2-yard loss.

Smith appeared in ten games, earning his first career start vs. Connecticut … He sat out the

South Florida contest with a right hamstring strain … Kolby led Cardinals rushers with an average of 9.4 yards per carry, gaining 347 yards with four touchdowns on 37 tries … He also caught eleven passes for 117 yards (10.6 avg), including one score.

Smith grabbed six passes for 122 yards and rushed six times for 29 yards vs. Army … Had nine carries for 65 yards vs. North Carolina … Ran for three touchdowns and 71 yards on five carries in the Cincinnati clash … Followed with six runs for 86 yards and a 7-yard score, adding 29 yards on four catches vs. Tulane.

Played in twelve games as a reserve tailback … Rushed eighteen times for 131 yards (7.3 avg) and a touchdown … Caught three passes for 51 yards (17.0 avg) and recorded four tackles (2 solos) on the punt coverage unit.

Scored his first career touchdown in the regular-season finale vs. Cincinnati on a 5-yard run … Had a season-long 20-yard carry vs. Texas Christian … Gained a season-high 60 yards on five attempts in the Texas-El Paso game.

2004: Sat out the South Florida game due to a right hamstring strain.

2005: Suffered a right knee medial collateral ligament sprain vs. North Carolina (10/08), missing the next two games vs. West Virginia and Cincinnati.

Campus: 4.48 in the 40-yard dash (indoor rubber track) … 4.58 in the 40-yard dash (outside grass field) … 335-pound bench press … Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times … 460-pound back squat … 308-pound hang clean … 41-inch vertical jump … 31 1/8-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … Right-handed … Wears contacts … 15/20 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 4.50 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times … 38-inch vertical jump … 9'6" broad jump … 7.22 three-cone drill … 4.34 20-yard shuttle.

Attended Rickards (Tallahassee, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach Algie Hendrieth … Four-time Honor Roll member and earned a three-star rating while being ranked as the nation's 10th-best all-purpose back by TheInsiders.com … Earned first-team All-Big Bend Area honors and was also named a Big Bend Area Super Six Senior, in addition to being nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award … Garnered running back MVP honors at the 2002 Tuscaloosa Nike Camp and earned team MVP, first-team All-District and honorable mention All-State honors during his junior and senior years … Selected to play in the Cali/Florida All-Star game … Tallied more than 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing as a senior … Played on both sides of the ball as a junior, notching 105 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles while also rushing for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns on 88 carries … Started at fullback as a sophomore, blocking for All-American running back Michael Fisher, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 30 scores. He also logged 533 yards and eight scores on 30 carries as a sophomore … The two-sport star also finished ninth at the state track meet in the 110 high hurdles as a junior.

Sports Administration major … Cousin of Chicago Bears strong safety, Mike Brown … Son of Gloria and Thomas Smith … Born 12/15/84 … Resides in Tallahassee, Florida.