KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Former Wildcat Joe Smith Signs with New York Jets

Former Wildcat Joe Smith Signs with New York Jets

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Joe Smith, who played for four seasons as a punter at Central Washington University from 2000-03, has signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets of the National Football League.

Smith, who turns 27 on Sunday (June 15), starred for the Wildcats for four seasons and earned first team NCAA Division II All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) following his senior season in 2003. A two-time first team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference punter, Smith led the entire nation (Division II) in punting average in his final campaign and earned a selection to the Cactus Bowl all-star game following the season.

Smith, a native of Enumclaw, Wash., finished his career with 144 total punts and an average of 43.24 yards per punt -- the highest career average in Central Washington history. Since the end of his collegiate career at CWU, Smith has been playing semi-pro football for the Yakima Mavericks of the Evergreen Semi-Pro League, averaging 42.8 yards per punt in 2007 and earning the league's special teams MVP award last season.

Smith joins a list of several former Wildcats to have professional opportunities within the National Football League. Currently, quarterback Jon Kitna (1992-95) is the only active CWU alum in the NFL, playing for the Detroit Lions. Other recent Wildcats to see time in training camps of NFL teams include two of Smith's former teammates -- defensive lineman Lance Gibson (New York Jets) and wide receiver Jake Roberts (Tennessee Titans). Neither player participated in a regular-season game in the NFL.