He was always the fastest guy in the room. In high school at Huntingtown, Maryland, Anthony Smith wasn't just a football player; he was a track phenom who basically glided past defenders like they were standing in wet cement. But for a long time, that raw speed didn't translate to the kind of "wow" stats you’d expect.
Four years. That’s how long he spent at NC State.
While he was in Raleigh, he was mostly a rotational piece, a guy who would occasionally pop up for a big play but never really became the guy. He finished his Wolfpack career with 13 total catches. Honestly, a lot of players would have just checked out or let their confidence tank after that kind of stretch. Instead, Smith hit the portal and headed to Greenville.
It turns out, East Carolina was exactly what he needed.
Why Anthony Smith East Carolina Was a Match Made in Heaven
When Smith arrived at ECU for the 2024 season, the vibe changed instantly. He wasn't just a "speed guy" anymore. At 6-foot-3 and around 190 pounds, he had the frame to be a legitimate outside threat. He started all 13 games in his first year as a Pirate.
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Think about that. After four years of waiting for his turn, he finally got to be the focal point.
The results were kinda ridiculous. He averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in 2024. If the ball was in the air and Smith was anywhere near it, you basically assumed it was going for 40 yards. He finished that initial season with 799 yards and six touchdowns, but that was really just the appetizer for what he’d do as a graduate student in 2025.
Breaking Down the 1,000-Yard Breakout
By the time the 2025 season rolled around, everyone knew who number 9 was. He was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List—an honor given to the best receiver in the country. That's a long way from the guy who had two catches in 2023.
His 2025 campaign was a masterclass in consistency and verticality:
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- Total Production: 64 receptions for 1,053 yards.
- Touchdowns: 7 receiving scores (plus a random 45-yard rushing TD).
- Big Games: He absolutely torched Tulsa for 150 yards and two scores on just four catches.
One of the coolest parts of his story? He got to play his old team, NC State, twice. In the 2024 Military Bowl, he helped the Pirates beat the Wolfpack 26-21. Then, in the 2025 season opener, he went back to Carter-Finley Stadium as an opponent. Even though ECU lost that specific game 24-17, Smith proved he belonged, grabbing six passes for 66 yards.
The Military Bowl Masterclass
If you want to know what Anthony Smith is all about, just go back and watch the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl against Pitt. It was his final college game. The Pirates were shorthanded. Their starting quarterback, Katin Houser, had already entered the portal.
Smith didn't care.
He went out and set a Military Bowl record with 156 receiving yards. He caught two touchdowns, including a 72-yarder where he caught a short pass, found a seam, and just... left everyone. It was the perfect exclamation point on a career that started slow but ended at a million miles per hour. He was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team, and rightfully so.
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What Makes Him Different?
You’ve seen fast receivers before, but Smith has this weird ability to maintain his speed while tracking the ball over his shoulder. A lot of track guys struggle with "football speed"—they’re fast in a straight line but can’t catch. Smith is a technician. He credits the ECU coaching staff, specifically guys like John David Baker, for helping him refine the "underneath" stuff. He stopped being just a deep threat and started being a guy who could move the chains on 3rd and 7.
Moving Toward the NFL
Now that his time in Greenville is done, the conversation has shifted to the next level. NFL scouts love his height-weight-speed profile. You can't coach 6-foot-3 with legitimate 4.3 or 4.4 speed.
Some people might point to his age—he’s a sixth-year senior—as a drawback. But honestly, the maturity shows. He’s been through the highs of a 1,000-yard season and the lows of sitting on the bench for years. That kind of perspective is rare.
He leaves ECU as one of the most explosive playmakers the program has seen in the modern era. He wasn't just a transfer; he was a culture-setter who proved that sometimes, a change of scenery is the only thing standing between a "bust" and an All-American caliber player.
Actionable Takeaways for ECU Fans and Draft Evaluators
If you’re tracking Smith's transition to the pros or looking at how ECU replaces him, keep these things in mind:
- The Vertical Gap: ECU loses over 16 yards per completion with Smith gone. They’ll need to find a new "X" receiver who can stretch the field to keep safeties out of the box.
- Scouting Focus: Watch Smith's tape against Pitt and Florida Atlantic. Those games show his ability to create yards after the catch (YAC), which is what NFL GMs actually want to see beyond just the long balls.
- Transfer Lessons: Smith’s success is a blueprint for ECU. They’ve proven they can take "underutilized" Power Five talent and turn them into stars. Expect them to be aggressive in the portal for another veteran wideout this spring.
Anthony Smith didn't just play for East Carolina; he redefined what their passing attack could look like. Whether he’s catching passes on Sundays or just remembered as a Pirate legend, his two-year run in Greenville was nothing short of electric.