April 27, 2008
NEW YORK – Former University of New Mexico wide receiver Marcus Smith was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the seventh pick of the fourth round (106th overall) today in the 2008 National Football League Draft. Smith is the highest drafted receiver in Lobo history and first UNM receiver selected since Terance Mathis in 1990 (sixth round).
Former New Mexico teammates and first team all-Mountain West Conference selections Travis Brown and Devin Clark each signed free agent contracts following the draft. Brown, who finished his Lobo career ranked third all-time with 182 receptions, inked a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Clark, a two-year starter at right tackle, signed with the Washington Redskins.
Smith is the sixth Lobo selected in the NFL Draft since 2005 and the 10th taken during head coach Rocky Long’s tenure. New Mexico has had at least one player drafted each of the last four years – the program’s longest streak in the modern NFL Draft era.
The Lobos had at least one player selected during a nine-year run between 1963-71.
A former tailback, Smith developed into one of the top wide receivers in the nation in his final two years at New Mexico, including a breakthrough 2007 season. An Honorable Mention all-MWC pick and his teammates’ choice for Most Improved Player as a first year starter in 2006, he was easily the league’s most productive pass catcher in 2007, catching a school record 91 passes for 1,125 yards en route to first team all-conference honors.
The San Diego product finished his career ranked sixth all-time at UNM with 3,749 career all-purpose yards (2,073 receiving, 323 rushing, 1,353 kick returns), averaging 76.5 per game. He ranks among the top-10 all-time at UNM in receptions (153 – 4th), receiving yardage (2,073 – 7th) and receiving touchdowns (13 – t7th), and closed his career with a catch in 27 consecutive games.
A team captain in 2007, Smith was also a standout special teams player throughout his 49-game career. He recorded 26 tackles (22 solo) and a fumble recovery on kick and punt coverage and a 19.9-yard average on 68 kickoff returns.