Nate Kmic

[celticdb15]

d3 back who is only 287 yards away form breaking Danny Woodhead's one year mark!

. I would like to write the author of the article in praise but could not find a link. THe article was posted as a link on Draft Daddy


<SMALL =day>8</SMALL> <SMALL =month>Dec</SMALL> <SMALL =year></SMALL>



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<TD>Mount Union Running Back
Nate Kmic</TD></TR></T></TABLE>


One of the great things about this time of year for the true college football fan is the increase in exposure for teams that play outside of the usual confines of our network lineups. Sure,Florida's ascension to the BCS title game is great and all,but give me a bleacher capacity crowd overlooking a wind-swept fieldunder a darkened afternoon any day andthe true football fan in me will be right at home.


And while it's true that not many people are ditching conference championship gamesor bowl season extravaganzas for the snowy gridiron of places like Alliance, Ohio or Maryville, Missouri; the few tidbits of the lower division games we do catch on our lazy Saturday afternoon channel-flipping odysseys are more than enough to alert us to life outside of the FBS.


Case in point, the continuing dominance of the Mount Union Purple Raiders in the Division III Playoffs. Mount Union is one of those teams that even casual fans inevitably hear something about each year, although most would be hard pressed to find the tiny Ohio school on the map.


Yet despite its small size Mount Union has become a dominant fixture in the small school college football landscape, reaching the national semifinal game in the Division III playoffs for a mind-boggling 14 consecutive years. With nine national championships in the span of fifteen seasons (including titles in 2005 and 2006) the Purple Raiders have reached a level of prefecture that is virtually unmatched in all of sport, while finding themselves in perfect position to continue their legacy after a 41-14 victory of Cortland State in the quarterfinals last weekend.


Instrumental to the success of the Purple Raiders both this year and during their most recent title runs (including last year's Championship finals loss at the hands of Wisconsin-Whitewater) has been the play of senior tailback Nate Kmic. At 5'9, 196 pounds he may not "look" like a record setting tailback when in his two point stance in the Purple Raider backfield, but once the pads get to popping this guy is nothing short of the best running back in Division III history.


An explosive back with a great first step and very good speed, it is Kmic's blend of balance, strength, and quick feet which make him so effective as a rusher and have vaulted him to the top of the NCAA record books. Last month Kmic broke RJ Bowers' all-time Division III record of 7,353 yards, and with his most recent performance against Cortland State (227 yards and four touchdowns) he remains just 287 yards shy of Danny Woodhead's all-time NCAA rushing record. With at least one more game to go and seven career 200+ yard rushing games in the playoffs, Kmic has an excellent opportunity over the next two weeks to break and perhaps surpass Woodhead's one-year old mark.


To put Kmic's production in perspective, consider that the senior running back from Delta, Ohio has 3,488 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in his playoff career alone. That's a mind-boggling average of 193.7 yards and two and a half touchdowns per contest against the best competition from around the country at the Division III level! No wonder the Purple Raiders have been so dominant in recent years, with the team losing only twice in Kmic's four seasons in Alliance.


As for Kmic's NFL chances, I will say that from everything I've seen this young man deserves a shot. You can't argue with his production, and when you watch the young man on film you can't help but be impressed with his ability.


This isn't just a kid who is the product of great blocking or awesome coaching (although that does figure into play) but a unique athlete with a tremendous combination of power and speed despite his 5'9 frame. I like his first step and acceleration into the hole, while his toughness and tackle-breaking ability rivals that of much bigger backs. While some may scoff at comparisons to NFL players like Maurice-Jones Drew, Kmic's style of runningand his staturemore than support even the rough analogy.


Making it to the next level won't be easy though. NFLDraftScout.com - a leading source for information of small school prospects - currently ranks Kmic 59th out of 169 senior running backs from across college football. Justin Beaver, who graduated from Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater last season and was granted a tryout by the Green Bay Packers, was ranked 49th out of 181 running backs by the same source in last year's class.


Both backs display similar size and speed, while Beaver was considered the best back in Division III last year - a distinction many have given to Kmic this year. For Kmic to make it where Beaver did not the Delta product will need to dismiss the usual scouting stereotypes of size, competition level, and even race to get his shot at an NFL preseason camp.


Fortunately another recent Mount Union product may have paved the way for him. Last year the Colts selected former Mount Union wide receiver Pierre Garcon with the 206th draft pick, two months after the 6'0 wideout participated in the NFL combine in Indianapolis.


That Garcon could use production alone to garner an invite to the combine gives Kmic hope for a similar invitation this year, while the Colts' drafting of Garcon based on good but not great combine numbers shows some NFL front offices may finally "get it" when it comes to small school players.


NFL future or not, Kmic and his growing legend will live on for at least another week, as the Purple Raiders continue their march towards yet another Stagg Bowl and Division III title. Mount Union will be back on their home field this Saturday to take on Wheaton (Ill) in the National semifinal game. The Purple Raiders are 5-0 all-time against the Thunder, including a 35-3 victory over Wheaton in the playoffs two seasons ago.


Should the Purple Raiders advance, they will play in the Stagg Bowl for the Division III National Championship on Saturday, December 20th in a game to be televised nationally on ESPN 2.


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by Adam Nettina
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[Gi-15]

I sure hope he get a shot, moreso I hope he really is 5'9''....

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I've been following Nate since 2006 and I really hope he gets a shot at the NFL. I think another national title and the all division NCAA rushing record for Nate would surely help.

 

[PhillyBirds]

Seems like Mount Union just cranks these guys out.

 

[celticdb15]

Great News Danny Woodhead and Justin Beaver last year from small colleges and now Kmic and Stan Zwinggi maybe getting a shot as well. Little steps guys little steps. These guys represent the small quickish white back and we have guys like Peyton, Hester, Bolen to rep the big backs. Not to mention a ton of solid all around prospects coming up in the next few years!

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

IF Piere Garcon got a combine invite from Mount Union and he has lesser measureables, production and was still drafted; Nate Kmic should be drafted. But reason does not compute to the systematically racist NFL.

I hope and pray that Danny Woodhead recovers and is back with the Jets next year and gets at least some spot duty next season and I pray that Hillis, Hester and Leonard will get real shots next season, but I am not hopeful. I believe Kmic is better than Beaver; his production speaks to that. Stan Zwinggi isn't as productive as Kmic, but his production is still impressive and he plays in a higher level in the FBC. Zwinggi runs a 4.36 40 yard dash! These guys need a shot and God willing it will happen!

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Here's an article from the NY Times on Kmic. Notice how his own coach belittles Kmic as a legit Division IA prospect. I guess his coach doesn't realize that Brian Westbrook is smaller than Kmic and is one of the top NFL RBs and runs the 40 yard dash slower than his player.

Not Too Small to Challenge a Rushing Record

By BILL FINLEY
Published: December 12, 2008

Not a single team at the top levels of college football could find a spot for Nate Kmic, despite his success as a running back in high school. He was too small, they said.

But he found a home at Mount Union College, an N.C.A.A. Division III powerhouse in Alliance, Ohio, where he is attempting to wrap up the most productive career in collegiate history.

He has scored more touchdowns (126) and points (756) than any player at any level of the college game, and he needs 287 more yards to become the nation's leading career rusher. Danny Woodhead, who played for Division II Chadron State in Nebraska and is on the Jets' injured reserve list, holds the record (7,962 yards).

Kmic will have at least one more chance to surpass Woodhead, when No. 1 Mount Union faces No. 25 Wheaton College of Illinois in a semifinal game Saturday in the Division III playoffs.

"I feel like I play with a lot of heart and desire, and that's something that scouts can't really see or test," Kmic said.

Kmic, who is generously listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 196 pounds, put up staggering numbers at Delta High School in northwest Ohio. In his senior season, he ran for 1,681 yards and scored 294 points in 12 games, an average of 24.5 points a game. But major-college coaches were focused on his size and collectively took a pass.

That was fine with Mount Union Coach Larry Kehres.

"I wouldn't say that the Division I guys missed out on him," Kehres said. "There are certain physical parameters on height, weight and speed that they adhere to, and he came up short on them. What I like to do is look at videotape and look for someone who is just a good, complete football player."

Kmic took over as a starter during the playoffs in his freshman season and has been all but unstoppable since. He is among the reasons Mount Union has gone 46-2 during his time there and won national championships in 2005 and 2006.

"It's gone by way too fast, but I've had a great overall experience at Mount Union," Kmic said. "I'm so glad that I didn't get a D-I scholarship. I could have been lost in the shuffle there. Here, I got an opportunity to play football, meet a lot of great people and make a lot of good friends. I'm very grateful for that."

Kmic is a business major, but he is not thinking about graduate school or entering the 9-to-5 world. He hopes to make a living in professional football somewhere next season. A handful of Division III players are in the N.F.L., including Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon, a teammate of Kmic's last season at Mount Union.

"Pierre definitely opened the door for D-III guys," Kmic said. "A lot of D-III guys would get overlooked, but he made it and has worked his way up to a starter on special teams. D-III players can go up there and play."

First, though, Kmic is focusing on the Wheaton game. He knows that it could be his last game as a player and admits that it will be in the back of his mind when he takes the field Saturday. But he said it would not be a distraction. There are more important things to focus on, like helping his team advance to the championship game and, perhaps, another spot in the record book.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[Gi-15]

"I wouldn't say that the Division I guys missed out on him," Kehres said. "There are certain physical parameters on height, weight and speed that they adhere to, and he came up short on them. What I like to do is look at videotape and look for someone who is just a good, complete football player."

I find it sad his own coach is selling him short like this, he may be right, but that's not the time to make those statements, you can kiss his chances of getting a combine invite goodbye now.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

His coach should have his rear kicked all over the snowy fields up there. What a pathetic individual!

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

From the sounds of Draftdaddy comparing Kmic to Justin Beaver; it seems that Kmic will run the 40 sub 4.55. It's amazing that this guys stupid coach doesn't know that the average combine 40 time for RBs last year was 4.56 electronic timed. Mike Hart who is 5'9 and was a 5th round pick last year ran a 4.67. He played HB for Michigan.

This is troubling stuff when a guys own coach minimizes his talent to play in the FBS despite dominating Division III like no other "EVER" before. And like I said Brian Westbrook is a Pro Bowl NFL RB and at 5'8 only runs a 4.57 40 yard dash.

Colonel since when did you move to PEI Canada? Are you teaching up there?

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Nate Kmicis now the NCAA All-Division rushing leader! He broke Danny Woodhead's mark with about half of the fourth quarter left in a 45-24 DIII semifinal win over Wheaton (Illinois)!

After his record breaking TD run, Nate had 310 yards in the game and was given the game ball. Nate will have a chance to add to his totals next week in the Stagg Bowl (DIII Championship Game). Way to go Nate!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Here's the first aricle about Nate's record breaking day. He is only 14 yards from having 8,000 yards rushing in his Mount Union career!


[url]http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-fbc-whe aton-mountuni,0,3014037.story[/url]
<H1>Kmic sets rushing record in Mount Union win</H1>
<DL =byline>Associated Press
<DD>12:49 PM CST, December 13, 2008 </DD></DL>
<DIV id=story--parent>
ALLIANCE, Ohio - Nate Kmic became college football's all-time rushing leader, gaining 310 yards and scoring three touchdowns to lead Mount Union to a 45-24 win over Wheaton in the NCAA Division III semifinals on Saturday.

Kmic broke the record on a 42-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He has 7,986 career yards, 24 more than the record set by Danny Woodhead of Chadron State in 2004-07.

Kmic's fifth consecutive game of more than 200 rushing yards helped top-ranked Mount Union (14-0) advance to the championship game for the 12th time. The Purple Raiders will be seeking their 10th title in the Amos Alonzo Staff Bowl in Salem, Va., on Dec. 20 against the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mary-Hardin Baylor.

A year ago, Whitewater beat Mount Union 31-21 for the title, snapping the Purple Raiders' 37-game winning streak.

<DIV id=story--parent2>
Wheaton (11-3) had won three straight road playoff games to reach the semifinals for the first time in six postseason trips. But the Thunder lost one fumble that led to a Mount Union score, dropped a potential touchdown pass at the goal line, and couldn't contain Kmic.

The senior also scored on runs of 49 and 17 yards in his 14th career game of at least 200 yards on the ground. His 129 touchdowns and 774 career points are also more than any player at any level of college football.

Quarterback Greg Micheli completed 19 of 26 passes for 225 yards for Mount Union. He had first-half scoring passes of 11 yards to Cecil Shorts and 20 yards to A.J. Claycomb.

Wheaton's Sean Norris went 16-of-34, including TD passes of 29 yards to Alex Pokorny and 41 yards to Freddy Ellis, who also dropped a potential score at the goal line in the final seconds of the first half. Kyle Bradley passed 10 yards to Pokorny with 3:44 to play.

Mount Union has outscored opponents 791-126 this season and has college football's best overall record since 1990 at 244-11-1.

 

[white lightning]

Long live the King Kmic! One more game to go for a national championship and then hopefully if there is any justice, a shot at the NFL Combine. This kid is amazing. Unbelivable running back. The best college back of all time possibly! Congrats to Nate Kmic.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Nate on his record setting run!

 

[Electric Slide]

For anyone in Ohio the Division 3 semifinal is replaying right now on Sports Time Ohio (STO)! I'm recording this to watch the rest after the Heisman ceremony.

 

[FootballDad]

I know that this is now an ancient topic, but I'd like to note that Nate ended up going back to Mount Union as the running backs coach. Why he didn't pursue a pro career through other channels, such as the CFL, are a mystery to me.

 

[TorontoArgos]

I know that this is now an ancient topic, but I'd like to note that Nate ended up going back to Mount Union as the running backs coach.  Why he didn't pursue a pro career through other channels, such as the CFL, are a mystery to me.

That is a sad story. At least if he tore up the CFL he would open some eyes.

 

[dwid]

[TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3i1UEwfwcE[/TUBE]

Somebody with Mount Union put up better highlights than I had. When he came out I only had 1 full game, which was in the snow. I found another one and added it which includes a white cornerback in the NFL on defense but this video shows some impressive runs, makes Kmic look like a man among boys, kind of like Maurice Jones-Drew....too bad he put it upa few years too late. I wonder if there is a chance that Kmic could still try to get a spot on a team.

Pierre Garcon, no records broken except school records - 6th round
Nate Kmic - RB Coach after breaking NCAA all time rushing record, similar build to guys like Faulk and MJD, probably around 4.5 speed since the white cornerback had 4.4 and it took him a while to catch up with an angle, but not even a tryout
Cecil Shorts - did better than Garcon but nothing impressive for d3, I think last year was 1100 yards on 70 catches, 5'11ish 4.5 speed - 4th round.


Edited by: dwid

 

[dwid]

http://www.ifaf.info/articles/view/805/L2NvdW50cmllcy9mZWRlcmF0aW9uLzE=/federation:1

He is finally getting a shot, its not with the NFL/CFL but at least he is getting to play.

"Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (Border Knights) of the Finnish Maple League have signed running back Nate Kmic to replace injured back Mike Bolio to help the team's quest to reach the Finnish championship game, Maple Bowl XXXII.


Kmic was the star of the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship, winning tournament MVP honors as the United States defeated Canada to win the Gold Medal in Vienna on July 16.


"It hasn't really settled in yet," said Kmic. "I just got back here and now I'm heading back out next week. I'm definitely excited, but I can't wait to get settled in. There's a lot of good football played there. As a guy who loves football, it's an exciting place to be."



Kmic rushed for 94 yards and 4 touchdowns on 22 carries in four games and also posed a significant threat as a pass-catching back and when lining up as a receiver. He made 28 catches for 278 yards and a touchdown, leading the US in receptions in all games."

I watched the IFAF championship. He wasn't even the starter there, some afflete was, yet Kmic found a way to earn the MVP for the US team that won the gold on a smaller amount of touches and those few games was his first time playing since Mount Union a few years ago. When comparing him to Kevin Faulk I always wondered how his hands were since he didn't have many receptions at Mount Union. 28 catches in 4 games shows that he can.


It would be nice if football got bigger in Europe.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Kmic could be a very solid third down back in the NFL. Still, I still think Beaver is better. Beaver looked like a REALLY special player on film (like Danny Woodhead).

You make some brilliant points about all the black D III players who got a look with similar measureables to Kmic, but significantly less eye opening production. Heck, Kmic "DIDN"T EVEN GET A TRYOUT" after setting the all time NCAA all division career rushing record.

 

[dwid]

Yeah I didn't get a chance to see Beaver until 2010 someone posted some long highlights, he looks a little thinner than Kmic but shiftier. I think he couldve been similar to Warrick Dunn. I remember hearing about him being with the Roughriders and looking good in camp but nothing came of it.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Yeah I didn't get a chance to see Beaver until 2010 someone posted some long highlights.

Same here; I had only seen Kmic on tape. That's why I originally thought Kmic was better- due to better overall career production. When I saw how much Beaver dominated in the 07-08 D III playoffs in that video it REALLY IMPRESSED, as did his ELITE lateral agility.

I don't think Beaver is that small. He was listed at 196 lbs. on NFLdraftscout. He also bench pressed 225 lbs. (a ridiculously good) 24 times at almost exactly the same size as Woodhead- who put up 20 reps. A slightly stronger Warrick Dunn is probably a good comparison.

Beaver also had a faster short shuttle and 3-cone time than Woodhead: 20 yard shuttle: an awe inspiring 3.96, 3-cone: an impressive 6.72. His 10 yard burst isn't nearly as good as Woodhead's, but it still came back as a solid 1.54 (which is better than Leon Washington and Jake Sharp). The aforementioned are similar sized players who can play a split carry third down or scatback role. Beaver also ran a 4.45 40 yard dash. Everything about this kid screamed ELITE talent, yet he still got screwed. And by my Packers no less. :frusty:

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Same here; I had only seen Kmic on tape. That's why I originally thought Kmic was better- due to better overall career production. When I saw how much Beaver dominated in the 07-08 D III playoffs in that video it REALLY IMPRESSED, as did his ELITE lateral agility.

I don't think Beaver is that small. He was listed at 196 lbs. on NFLdraftscout. He also bench pressed 225 lbs. (a ridiculously good) 24 times at almost exactly the same size as Woodhead- who put up 20 reps. A slightly stronger Warrick Dunn is probably a good comparison.

Beaver also had a faster short shuttle and 3-cone time than Woodhead: 20 yard shuttle: an awe inspiring 3.96, 3-cone: an impressive 6.72. His 10 yard burst isn't nearly as good as Woodhead's, but it still came back as a solid 1.54 (which is better than Leon Washington and Jake Sharp). The aforementioned are similar sized players who can play a split carry third down or scatback role. Beaver also ran a 4.45 40 yard dash. Everything about this kid screamed ELITE talent, yet he still got screwed. And by my Packers no less. :frusty:

As we've seen time and time again, all of those desirable attributes are usually trumped by one characteristic, skin pigmentation. Sad.

 

[FootballDad]

Nate Kmic shined in his debut in the Finnish Maple League. But he's certainly not good enough even for an NFL practice squad. Just think what an NFL luminary like DuJuan Harris or Deji Karim (actual RBs on NFL rosters) could have done!:icon_rolleyes:

Here is a portion of the short article:

Former U.S. Men's National Team running back Nate Kmic of Delta, Ohio, rushed for 135 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Lappeenranta Rajaritarit in a 48-45 loss Friday to the Porvoo Butchers during a Finnish Maple League contest.

Kmic's overseas professional debut included three catches for 35 yards and one of his touchdowns. He signed with Lappeenranta after being named Most Valuable Player of Team USA's gold-medal finish in the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship. Lappeenranta has two more regular season games remaining before the Finnish playoffs.

Kmic scored his team's first touchdown on an 86-yard kickoff return with 7:15 left in the first quarter to even the score at 7-7. He added a 40-yard touchdown run with 3:03 left in the third quarter and a 7-yard scoring pass with 37 seconds left that put the Rajaritarit (translated as Border Knights) on top, 45-41.