Campbell's Smith seeks to build off frosh season

Published

(STATS) - The top returning rusher in the FCS in yards per game is not a running back.

Campbell redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Smith rushed for 126.9 yards per game last year, and he'll enter the 2018 season holding the distinction slightly over Lehigh running back Dom Bragalone (126.2).

Smith's 289-yard rushing effort against Davidson helped to highlight his big rookie campaign. He rushed for a school-record 1,269 yards as well as 12 touchdowns, averaging over 9.1 yards per carry for the national high.

The big question surrounding Smith and his teammates is how well they will translate to the FCS scholarship level as Campbell is moving to the Big South Conference from the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.

Bragalone led the FCS in overall rushing yards (1,388), while Maine's Josh Mack was No. 1 in rushing yards per game (133.5), but he has transferred out of the Black Bears' program.

Other returning rushing leaders in the top five are Wagner's Ryan Fulse (118.7 ypg), Duquesne's A.J. Hines (115.3) and Yale's Zane Dudek (113.3).