Week Two's Overnight Sensation: Ainias Smith, Running Back

Each Monday during the 2020 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance and earned the distinction of being the week’s ‘Overnight Sensation.’ 

This weekly column may or may not just evolve into a piece that brags about wideout-turned-running-back Ainias Smith. We'll have to see, but so far, through two weeks, Smith has been the Aggies' best offensive player.

While he wasn't last week's Overnight Sensation, Smith still played well in A&M's win 17-12 over Vanderbilt. However, the sophomore from Missouri City followed up last week's strong performance (78 total yards of offense and one score) with another exceptional outing in which he surpassed 150 total yards of offense and a pair of touchdowns against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Despite the Aggies taking a 52-24 loss in T-Town, Smith cemented his status as the Aggies' top athlete on offense (that we've seen so far). His game-changing speed and innate playmaking ability is something that Jimbo Fisher and Co. will certainly need more of if they plan to compete in the SEC anytime soon.

The Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY Sports

Smith found the end zone twice.

Ainias had a few "Wow" moments through the course of Saturday's beatdown, the first of which came in the first quarter.

With the Aggies trailing 14-0, a change in momentum was desperately needed. Smith provided just that when he hauled a pass from Kellen Mond on an underneath route, outran a would-be tackler to the sideline and finally showcased unbelievable balance as he tip-toed down the sideline before turning on the jets to take it to the house for a 47-yard score.

In the fourth quarter with the game already out of hand, Mond found Smith for a 43-yard pitch-and-catch as the Aggies moved into Alabama territory. Later on the drive, Mond connected with Smith again, this time in the endzone, for a 14-yard passing touchdown on a throw very similar to a pair the Aggie quarterback missed a week ago. Smith's second touchdown grab brought the score to 52-24.

Smith finished the game with six receptions for 123 yards. In addition to the three long catches listed above, he also had receptions of 14 and 15 yards. Ainias would finish the game as the Aggies' leading receiver.

On the ground, Smith wasn't nearly as productive as A&M would have hoped, but then again, neither was anybody else. Smith ended the day with 29 yards on five carries, good for a 5.8 yards per carry average. He was A&M's second-leading rusher behind true freshman quarterback Haynes King, who scampered for 43 yards on five runs during a single drive late in garbage time.

With the Alabama setback now in the rearview, the Aggies will face Florida this Saturday at Kyle Field. Should A&M hope to change their fortunes against the Gators (and any of the other remaining challenges), getting the ball to Ainias Smith early and often is a must.

Smith's stats against Alabama:
Receptions: 6
Receiving Yards: 123
Carries: 5 
Rushing Yards: 29
Touchdowns: 2

Smith's 2020 stats:
Receptions: 8
Receiving Yards: 150
Carries: 15
Rushing Yards: 80
Touchdowns: 3

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