Nate Kmic

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Nate Kmic
No. 36, 1
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1987-06-22) June 22, 1987 (age 37)
Delta, Ohio, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Delta
College: Mount Union (2005–2008)
Undrafted: 2011
Career history
  • Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (2011)
Career highlights and awards
Nate Kmic
Medal record
Men’s American football
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Austria Team Competition

Nate Kmic (born June 22, 1987) is a former professional American football running back. He played college football at Mount Union College after graduating from Delta High School in rural Delta, Ohio.

Contents

In his college career, he set rushing records for both NCAA Division III as well as the NCAA all-division record. At Mount Union, Kmic won three NCAA Division III football championships and was a three-time All-American and three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference running back.

After playing in the 2011 IFAF World Championship, representing Team USA, he signed a professional contract with the Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (Lapeenranta Border Knights) of the Finnish Maple League (Vaahteraliiga).

He later served as an assistant coach and running backs coach for the Mount Union Purple Raiders football team from 2009 to 2012. [1] Since September 2012, Kmic has worked at Alro Steel Corporation, a distributor of metals, plastic, and industrial supplies.

High school career

As a senior at Delta High School in Ohio, Kmic rushed for 1,681 yards and recorded 65 tackles and five interceptions on defense. [2]

College career

During the 2008 season, Kmic broke the Division III career record for rushing yards set in 2000 by R. J. Bowers of Grove City College. [3] That year, he rushed for 2,790 yards and 43 touchdowns while also recording 262 receiving yards and 1 touchdown, setting the NCAA all-division single-season record for touchdowns with 44 and points with 264.

On December 13, 2008, he rushed for 310 yards against Wheaton College, helping lead the Purple Raiders to a 45–24 victory, earning them a trip to Salem, Virginia for the 2008 Stagg Bowl where they defeated the UW-Whitewater Warhawks 31–26 in the fourth consecutive meeting of the two programs for the Division III Championship.

In the semifinal game, Kmic brought his career rushing total to 7,986, surpassing the previous record of 7,962 held by Danny Woodhead of NCAA Division II Chadron State. Kmic rushed for 88 yards in the Stagg Bowl, bringing his total to 8,074, the most of any player in NCAA history, and the first and only player to rush for over 8,000 yards. [4]

In April 2009, Kmic received the 2008 Melberger Award, granted annually to the outstanding Division III football player.

College statistics

RushingReceivingKick Ret
YearTeamGPAttYardsAvgTDsRecYardsAvgTDsRetYdsAvgTDs
2005Mount Union112021,2196.0181619712.311228323.60
2006Mount Union153362,3657.026201738.621433323.80
2007Mount Union152741,7006.238141178.41614624.30
2008Mount Union153772,7907.4432526210.5156613.20
College totals561,1898,0746.81257574910.053782822.40

Professional career

After the World Championship, and after an injury to former USC Trojans running back Mike Bolio, Kmic signed a professional contract with Finnish top league Vaahteraliiga team Lappeenranta Rajaritarit, with whom he played the rest of the 2011 season replacing Bolio. In the final two regular season games, Kmic rushed for 265 yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns and also scored on a reception and kick return. [5] In his first professional game, he rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns in addition to an 86-yard kickoff return touchdown. [6] Lappeenranta finished the regular season with a 7–3 record.

The team lost in the Vaahteraliiga league playoff semi final game 38-28 to the Seinäjoki Crocodiles. Kmic did not find the endzone in the game, but rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries and had five receptions for 48 yards.

National team career

Kmic was selected to play for Team USA at the 2011 IFAF World Championship held in Austria, winning tournament MVP honors. [7] The USA defeated Canada in the gold medal game, which saw Kmic rushing for two touchdowns. Kmic was then signed to play in Finland. [8]

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References

  1. ↑ Kmic, University of Mount Union Athletics
  2. ↑ Popovich, Mike (December 3, 2017). "From unknown to college football's career rushing leader". The Repository . Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ Sims, Damon (November 30, 2008). "Nate Kmic reaches rushing record as Mount Union defeats Hobart, 42-7". Cleveland.com . Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Purple Raiders' Kmic is 1st in NCAA overall to gain 8,000 yards rushing". ESPN . December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ Nate Kmic heads to the Finnish League on a quest to the Maple Bowl, IFAF
  6. ↑ Mount Union Running Back Nate Kmic Shines in Finnish Debut But Team Falls, University of Mount Union Athletics
  7. ↑ IFAF names World Championship All-Tournament Team, IFAF
  8. ↑ USA defends World title with 50-7 victory over Canada, IFAF
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