In Ancient Rome, young men competed in the Coliseum as gladiators for a chance at greatness; to have their name etched on to the pages of history. Today, young men compete on a football field to achieve the same effect; to have their name shouted on rooftops and be the darling of millions. Harrison Smith is one of such men. The American football player competes from the safety position to earn his name in the book of greatness. His career, thus, far speaks of a man who is equipped and ready to give his all to achieve excellence. Who is Harrison Smith? To know all about his professional career and net worth read on below.
Harrison Smith’s Bio
Harrison Smith was born on February 2, 1989. His journey to the dome of greatness started at Knoxville Catholic High School, Knoxville, Tennessee where his budding talents earned him the Gatorade Football Player of the Year award in the whole of Tennessee in 2006. He initially alternated among football, basketball, and track, but despite an equally excellent performance in track, Harrison knew football was where his destiny lay.
He was rated as a four-star recruit by scouting organizations and was considered the 25th best athlete in the entire country. Such pedigree attracts multiple interests from schools who want top talents so offers poured in for Harrison Smith from Tennessee, Auburn, Notre Dame, and Alabama. Harrison finally went with Notre Dame.
Harrison’s college career was an extended one. While most college talents declare for the NFL draft after a year or two of college, Harrison spent all four years. This was perhaps as a result of his confidence in his talents or a need to let his game develop properly before getting the exposure an NFL career would bring. He spent four successful years at Notre Dame and at the end of his college career, he had recorded a total of 187 tackles and 2 sacks.
NFL Career
At the end of his time at Notre Dame, Harrison was a well-known talent that was expected to be a first-round draft pick. It was a fulfilled expectation as he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He began his NFL career with a four year $7.13 million contract with a signing bonus of $3.63 million.
In his first season at the Vikings, he was in a competition for places with Jamarca Sanford and Andrew Sendejo – a competition he won. Smith’s first season as an NFL Pro-athlete ended with 104 combined tackles, three interceptions, and two touchdowns. His performance earned him a starting position for the Vikings in the 2013 season.
An injury sustained during a game against the Carolina Panthers kept him out of the team for a while. At the end of the season, he was only able to post a return of 58 combined tackles. With a fit body and a coach who recognized his abilities, Smith was back in the team again as the starting free safety. It was a decision that was rewarded at the end of the season with a total of 92 combined tackles, three sacks, and five interceptions.
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Smith played in his first Pro-bowl in the 2015 season. He posted a season with 66 combined tackles with two interceptions and one touchdown.
Harrison’s rookie contract ended at the end of the 2015 season and not one to let a talent like his go, the Vikings signed him on to a five year, $51.25 million contract that included a signing bonus of $10 million. Since then, he has made two more appearances in the Pro-Bowl, in 2016 and 2017 season, getting his first First-team All-Pro award in 2017. His current NFL career stands at 411 combined tackles and 9 sacks.
Who Are His Parents?
The journey to greatness can be a tricky one. With complicated choices littered all the way, it is an added benefit to have someone who has walked on the path guide you. That is what Harrison Smith had in the early days of his budding career as his parents were former athletes. His father Dr. Steven J. Smith, before dropping the applause of multitudes in the stands for the quiet reward of successful surgeries, was a basketball player along with his mother, Susan Smith who went on trials for a professional team in 1974. Harrison isn’t also the only athlete in the Smith family. His two brothers, Garrett and Stuart are former sportsmen too. Harrison also has a sister, Natalie.
Who is Harrison Smith’s Girlfriend?
Despite being on his way to making his name as a legend of the game, Harrison has managed to keep a low profile regarding his relationships. The Vikings free safety isn’t confirmed to be married but is believed to be in a relationship with Madison Bankston. Nothing has been confirmed by either party.
Salary
Smith, in 2016, signed a five-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The contract which was worth $51 million and gave him a signing bonus of $10 million has Harrison Smith earning a salary average of $7.65 million per year.
