Getting to Know You: Safety Fish Smithson

Smithson Hopes not to be a Fish out of Water

In what has been an injury decimating season for the Washington Redskins, it has provided opportunities to players who might not have gotten them otherwise.  This trend continues with Montae Nicholson being put on the IR ending his season.  The corresponding move by the team was to call Fish Smithson up from the practice squad.  Who is Fish Smithson?  I am glad you asked.

Fish Smithson was born in Baltimore, MD with the first name of Anthony.  When Fish went off to college he decided that he did not like the name Anthony and decided to go by the nickname Fish and it stuck.  Fish went to Hartnell College his freshman year before transferring to the University of Kansas.  While at Kansas, Fish earned two collegiate awards.  In 2015, he earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and in 2016 he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors.

Per NFL.com’s draft analysis of Fish he is smaller than what teams are typically looking for at 5’11’’ and 190 pounds.  He has some good instincts and overall football intelligence, but his inability to finish a tackle will hinder him in moving up a depth chart.  Fish ended up going undrafted and signing with the Washington Redskins.  After getting cut in August, the Redskins signed Fish back to the practice squad where he has remained until being called up yesterday.

We will see how the Redskins decide to use Fish and how it could affect his potential positioning on the roster going into OTA’s and training camp in 2018.  If he wants to last in the NFL, he needs to show he can swim with the big boys for the next two weeks.