Ihmir Smith-Marsette
No. 11 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1999-08-29) August 29, 1999 (age 24)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Weequahic (Newark, New Jersey)
College:Iowa (2017–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / Round: 5 / Pick: 157
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:182
Receiving touchdowns:2
Rushing yards:73
Rushing touchdowns:1
Return yards:422
Return touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Ihmir Smith-Marsette (born August 29, 1999) is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Early years

Smith-Marsette grew up in Newark, New Jersey. He initially attended St. Benedict's Preparatory School, where he played water polo, before transferring to Weequahic High School after his freshman year.[1] As a senior, Smith-Marsette had 38 receptions for 773 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense and 43 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries on defense and also scored three touchdowns as a return specialist.[2]

College career

Smith-Marsette caught 18 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman season.[3] As a sophomore he had 28 receptions for 361 yards and two touchdowns.[4][5][6] As a junior, Smith-Marsette caught 44 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 108 yards and three touchdowns and returned 17 kickoffs for 503 yards and two touchdowns.[7][8][9] In a shortened schedule during his senior season, Smith-Marsette recorded 25 receptions for 345 yards and 3 touchdowns – with two of those coming in his final college game.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+3⁄4 in
(1.85 m) 		181 lb
(82 kg) 		30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 4.42 s 1.55 s 2.61 s 4.23 s 7.06 s 37.0 in
(0.94 m)		 10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		 10 reps
All values from Pro Day[10][11][12]

Minnesota Vikings

Smith-Marsette was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round, 157th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.[14]

In Week 15 against the Chicago Bears, Smith-Marsette recorded his first career receiving touchdown.[15]

On August 31, 2022, Smith-Marsette was waived by the Vikings after the acquisition of Jalen Reagor.[16]

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears claimed Smith-Marsette off waivers on September 1, 2022.[17] Smith-Marsette was waived on October 18.[18]

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 21, 2022, Smith-Marsette was signed to the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.[19] He was elevated to the active roster prior to the season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on January 6, 2023.[20] Smith-Marsette became a Super Bowl champion when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII 38–35 against the Philadelphia Eagles.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2023.[22]

Carolina Panthers

On August 29, 2023, Smith-Marsette was traded to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a swap of conditional 2025 seventh-rounders.[23] On November 9, 2023, he returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, the Panthers' first punt return for a score since 2017.[24]

On March 12, 2024, Smith-Marsette re-signed with the Carolina Panthers under a one-year contract.[25]

Legal issues

Smith-Marsette was arrested on November 1, 2020, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was suspended from the team for the following game against Michigan State.[26]

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Jeff (August 28, 2019). "Water polo came before football for Iowa's Ihmir Smith-Marsette". The Gazette. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Gould, Brandon (February 1, 2017). "WATCH: Ihmir Smith-Marsette of Weequahic picks Iowa over Rutgers, Minnesota on National Signing Day". NJ.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Dochterman, Scott (August 13, 2018). "Receivers Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette have Iowa expecting big things on the outside". The Athletic. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Metcalf, Bobby (August 22, 2019). "'Fire and ice': Smith, Smith-Marsette ready for increased role". Quad-City Times. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Dochterman, Scott (March 17, 2019). "As Iowa's ultimate high-wire act, Ihmir Smith-Marsette keeps opponents (and his teammates) on their toes". The Athletic. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Batterson, Steve (December 23, 2019). "Smith-Marsette wants to catch a little attention". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Batterson, Steve (July 6, 2020). "Hawkeyes' Smith-Marsette looks for improvement in 2020". Globe Gazette. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Bock, Sean (June 17, 2020). "ESPN: Smith-Marsette is Iowa's 'most exciting' player in 2020". 247Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  9. ^ Eickholt, David (July 23, 2020). "Smith-Marsette Named to Hornung Award Watch List". 247Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "Ihmir Smith-Marsette Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ihmir Smith-Marsette 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ Young, Lindsey; Peters, Craig; Smith, Eric (May 1, 2021). "Minnesota Vikings Round 4 Recap of 2021 NFL Draft". Vikings.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Links, Zachary (May 13, 2021). "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Williams, Charean (December 20, 2021). "Ihmir Smith-Marsette scores first career touchdown, giving Vikings 17–3 lead". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  16. ^ Young, Lindsey (August 31, 2022). "Vikings Acquire WR Jalen Reagor From Eagles". Vikings.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  17. ^ Mayer, Larry (September 1, 2022). "Roster Move: Bears claim WR Smith-Marsette off waivers". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Alper, Josh (October 18, 2022). "Bears sign Isaiah Coulter off practice squad, waive Ihmir Smith-Marsette". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  19. ^ Comeaux, Jonathan (October 21, 2022). "Chiefs Sign WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette To Practice Squad". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  20. ^ Williams, Charean (January 6, 2023). "Chiefs elevate Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Matthew Wright for Saturday's game". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  21. ^ "Super Bowl LVII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Goldman, Charles (February 15, 2023). "Chiefs sign 12 practice squad players on reserve/future contracts". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  23. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2023). "Wide receiver acquired in trade with Chiefs". Panthers.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Williams, Charean (November 10, 2023). "Ihmir Smith-Marsette's 79-yard punt return gives Panthers early lead". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  25. ^ https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/panthers-ihmir-smith-marsette-back-with-carolina/
  26. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (November 1, 2020). "Iowa WR Smith-Marsette charged with OWI". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.

External links

Carolina Panthers roster
Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL draft selections
Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVII champions
Categories