EAGLES GAME NOTES

28 RB | WENDELL SMALLWOOD
VITALS
Height: 5-10
Weight: 208
Date Of Birth: January 20, 1994
Hometown: Elkton, MD
HS: Eastern Christian Academy
(Elkton, MD)
College: West Virginia
NFL Experience: Rookie
Draft Pick: D5a-16
(153rd overall) by
Philadelphia
WEST VIRGINIA
SINGLE-SEASON
RUSHING YARDS
1. Steve Slaton (2006) 1,744
2. Avon Cobourne (2002) 1,710
3. Amos Zereoue (1997) 1,589
4. Wendell Smallwood (2015) 1,519
THREE-STEP DROP
In any other sport, what position would you play and what team:
Shooting guard for the Philadelphia 76ers
Player he tries to model his game after: Marshall Faulk
Pre-game ritual: Make myself throw up. “I don’t like anything in me”
Three favorite throwback jerseys: Brian Westbrook, Eagles; Michael Vick,
Falcons; Michael Jordan, North Carolina
Biggest Pet Peeve: The sound of a chalkboard
Favorite TV show: Martin
First Job: Counselor at the YMCA
Favorite quote: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but
only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize”
- Corinthians 9:24
“
Here is a guy I think can be explosive;
has shown some explosiveness. I really
like the fact how he catches the football
out of the backfield. I think that is
something that is just a gift that he has.
He’s a natural; a natural pass catcher.
-Eagles head coach Doug Pederson
A native of nearby Wilmington, DE, and a fan of the
Eagles during his childhood, Wendell Smallwood
joined his hometown team after being selected in
the 5th round of the 2016 draft from West Virginia.
In 2015, Smallwood was named WVU’s offensive
player of the year and earned All-Big 12 second-team
honors after setting career highs with 1,519 yards and
12 touchdowns on 238 carries (6.4 avg.).
2016 HIGHLIGHTS
• Made his first career NFL start vs. GB (11/28).
Rushed for 37 yards on 9 attempts (4.1), while
adding 10 yards on 1 reception
• Led the Eagles in rush attempts (13) and rushing
yards (48) at Sea. (11/20), while adding career highs
in receptions (4) and receiving yards (31)
• Contributed to the Eagles’ 208-yard rushing attack
with a 70-yard performance on 13 carries (5.4 avg.)
in the 24-15 victory vs. Atlanta (11/13)
• Carried the ball twice for 25 yards (12.5 avg.),
including a game-long and career-best 19-yard
rush in the first quarter at NYG (11/6). Also posted
2 kickoff returns for 50 yards (25.0 avg.)
• Registered an 86-yard kickoff return TD at Was.
(10/16). Was the Eagles’ first kickoff return TD
since Josh Huff on 11/23/14 vs. Ten. (107 yards).
In 2016, Smallwood and Huff (98-yard kickoff
return TD vs. Min. on 10/23) became the first duo
in Eagles history and the fifth in the NFL since
the 1970 merger to produce kickoff return TDs in
consecutive weeks
• Led the team with 17 carries for 79 yards (4.6 avg.),
including a 1-yard TD, the first of his NFL career.
His 79 yards were the most by an Eagles rookie
since Bryce Brown on 12/2/12 at Dal. (169 yards)
• Combined for 16 yards on two carries and returned
a kickoff for a career-high 30 yards in the Monday
Night Football victory at Chi. (9/19)
• Appeared in his first NFL game in the season debut
vs. Cle. (9/11). Returned a kickoff for a team-high
23 yards and had one carry on offense
BIRDSEED
• Grew up a fan of the Eagles in nearby Wilmington.
One of his favorite games he attended was the
Eagles-Packers playoff game on January 11,
2004 when he witnessed the Eagles’ 4th and 26
conversion that led to a comeback win in overtime.
• His favorite Eagle all-time was Duce Staley, who
now serves as his position coach. “I was star-struck
at the combine after meeting him. I even asked for
a picture with him”
”