Former FSU All-American Sammie Smith goes in depth about struggles, successes in new book

Anyone who saw Sammie Smith play even one game of college football at Florida State remembers just how extraordinary of an athlete he was.

He was 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and a legitimate track star. He could run you over or simply run past you. Either way, he was exceedingly difficult to tackle.

But those who followed Smith’s post-playing career also know about the down times. Which resulted in the former first-round pick of the 1989 NFL Draft serving seven years in prison on federal charges of possession and distribution of cocaine.

But the former Florida State star didn’t let that period of his life define him.

Smith, who has worked for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for a number of years now, talks about the highs and lows and the return to the highs in his new book, “My name is not 18121-018.”

The title references his federal prison bureau ID number.

“It was a labor of love,” Smith said of the book, during an exclusive interview with Warchant.com. “It was an opportunity for me to get my story out. And share some, I thought, unique things that happened in my life. Some highs, some lows, and being able to come out on the other side of those things. That’s the message that I want to portray.”

The full 22-minute interview with Smith can be found on Warchant’s YouTube channel.

During the chat, he even recites his verse from the infamous, “Seminole Rap,” word for word.

Smith finished his Florida State career with 2,539 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns. His best season was the one that started the Seminoles’ dynasty, when he ran for 1,230 yards in helping lead FSU to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 final ranking. He battled injuries in his final year in 1988, but still finished with 577 yards and four more scores.

Plus, back then, the NCAA didn’t count bowl stats as official. So, if you throw in Smith’s three bowl appearances — the 1986 All-American Bowl against Indiana (205 yards and two TDs), the 1988 Fiesta Bowl against Nebraska (28 yards) and the 1989 Sugar Bowl against Auburn (115 yards), Smith finished his FSU career with 2,887 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.

In a recruiting class that included Deion Sanders, Smith was the unquestioned star. And while he lived up to that billing during his days in Tallahassee, he didn’t when it came to the NFL. He was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1989 draft by the Miami Dolphins, but he was out of the league by 1992.

And then a few years later, he was in prison.

Smith’s book focuses on his football career, his life after football, and the journey he’s been on ever since, working with young men and women for the FCA. During the previous seven years, he was the FCA Director of Character Development for the Ole Miss football team before recently taking a job back in his home state of Florida working for FCA Outdoors.

Smith credits his parents and many of the people in his life for making him realize that his life could go down a different road than the one that led him to being locked up.

“That encouragement is enough to really allow yourself to pick yourself back up,” Smith said. “And realize that I can change the narrative of this story. I can get through this, and I can come out on the other side and be impactful. And be used by God to influence and impact people. And that’s what I chose to do.

“I know that my story now, and has been for some time, able to impact lives and help change lives and change narratives.”

Smith’s book is about football. It’s about bad choices. And it’s about redemption.

It’s about one of the all-time superstar running backs to ever come out of the state of Florida, about his downfall, and then about him getting back on his feet to find his true calling.

“The story just goes to tell you I’m not defined by that (prison) number,” Smith said. “I’m not defined by the No. 33 that I wore at Florida State. But I’m defined by who God says I am. So, I’m excited about the book. I think it’s going to be a blessing to whoever gets it in their hands.”

Smith’s book, “My name is not 18121-018,” is available to purchase right here. The former Florida State great also plans to appear at Warchant’s live event at Hooch’s in Orlando on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 2, to sell and sign books as well.

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