Alex Smith life and biography

After being named the starting quarterback midway through the 2009 season, Alex Smith stepped in and had the best 10-game stretch of his career, setting career-highs in TDs (18), comp. percentage (60.5) and QB rating (81.5). A tough, cerebral signal caller, Smith showed his development at quarterback after having battled through injuries early in his career.

TRANSACTIONS:
Originally a 1st-round (1st pick overall) draft choice by San Francisco in 2005.

•In early 2007, Alex committed $500,000 to the University of Utah’s ath­letic department. The generous donation was the lead gift for the Alex Smith Strength and Conditioning Facility—a $1.5 million expansion of Utah’s var­sity athletics weight room. The money kicked off a campaign to raise the remaining funds for the project. Plans call for the expansion of the Dee Glen Smith Center, which houses the strength and conditioning room, as well as the football coaching offices, meeting, training and equipment rooms. The facility covers 11,000 square feet—a 3,500 square foot improvement from its current size, and features new lifting stations and cardiovascular condi­tioning space.
•Alex graduated college in three years with a bachelor’s degree in economics and scored one of the highest scores (40) on the Wonderlic Test prior to the NFL Draft.
•In 2006, Alex established the Alex Smith Foundation (www.alexsmithfoun­dation.org), which provides foster teens with the tools and resources needed to transition to successful adulthood.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Became the first 49ers quarterback in club history to take every snap from center over the course of a season in 2006.
•Set new single-season career highs in TD passes (18), completion percent­age (60.5) and QB rating (81.5) in 2009.
•Ranks 7th in franchise history with 7,029 career passing yds.

2009:
•Set new single-season career highs in TD passes (18), completion percent­age (60.5) and QB rating (81.5).
•Moved into 7th place in team history in passing yds. (7,029 yds.).
•In his first action since 11/12/07, he started the 2nd half at Hou. (10/25) and completed 15 of 22 pass attempts for 206 yds., 3 TDs, 1 INT and a passer rating of 118.6. Became the first 49ers QB to throw 3 TD passes in a half since QB Jeff Garcia at Arz. (12/7/03), who had 4 TD passes in the 1st half. His 3 TD passes tied a career-high (vs. Oak - 10/8/06). His QB rating of 118.6 marked the 2nd-highest of his career (120.5 vs. Oak. - 10/8/06).
•Connected with TE Vernon Davis on a 40-yd. recept. to set up the team’s first TD of the day vs. Ten. (11/8). Set a career high with 29 comps.
•Tied a career high with 3 TD passes at GB (11/22).
•Set 1st-half career highs in atts. (29), comps. (18), and yds. (169), while throwing 2 TD passes in the first half vs. Jax. (11/29). Also completed at least 4 passes to 5 different receivers for the first time in his career.
•Recorded a new career high with 310 yds. passing at Sea. (12/6), which also marked his first career 300-yd. passing game.

2008:
•Entered season as team’s backup QB behind J.T. O’Sullivan, but injured shoulder in practice three days prior to the season opener and was placed on IR (9/10).

2007:
•In season opener on Monday Night Football vs. Arz. (9/10), completed 15 of 31 passes for 126 yds., while also rushing for 36 yds. on 3 carries. Led team on game-winning drive, completing 6 of 10 passes for 60 yds. to go along with a 25-yd. rush on 4th down. WR Arnaz Battle scored go ahead TD on 1-yd. rush with 22 seconds remaining in 20-17 win.
•Left game after first series at Sea. (9/30) with a shoulder separation from a sack by DT Rocky Bernard.
•Returned to starting lineup vs. NO (10/28) and completed 22 of 43 passes for 190 yds. with 1 TD.
•Started 2 more games before being placed on IR (12/12) and undergoing shoulder surgery (12/13) to repair ligaments.

2006:
•Became first quarterback in 49ers history to take every snap over course of a season. The only other NFL quarterbacks to take every snap in 2006 were Peyton Manning (Indianapolis), Jon Kitna (Detroit), and J.P. Losman (Buffalo).
•Set career-highs in every category in 2006, finishing with 257 completions on 442 atts., 2,890 passing yds., 16 TDs and 16 INTs.
•Completed 23 of 40 atts. for 288 yds., including a 31-yd. TD pass to Davis at Arz. (9/10).
•In home opener vs. StL (9/17), threw for 233 yds. on 11 of 22 passing, which included a 72-yd. TD pass to WR Antonio Bryant in 3rd qtr.
•Threw for a then-career-high 293 yds. on 27 of 46 passing with 1 TD vs. Phi. (9/24). Completed a career-long 75-yd. pass to WR Bryan Gilmore in 3rd qtr., marking second straight week he bested the mark.
•Completed 19 of 25 passes for 163 yds. and 1 TD vs. Sea. (11/19), while also recording first career rushing TD.
•Completed 14 of 25 passes for 162 yds. with 2 TDs at Sea. (12/14) to go along with 6 carries for 33 yds. and 1 rushing TD in 49ers 24-14 win. Engi­neered 4th-qtr. comeback with 2 TD passes and an 18-yd. TD run. Only two other players in NFL history threw at least 2 TD passes in 1 qtr. while also running for a TD of at least 15 yds. in that same qtr. – Phil Simms as a rookie for the 1979 Giants (against the 49ers) and Kordell Stewart for the Steelers in 1997 (against the Ravens).
•Finished season by completing 17 of 32 passes for 194 yds. with 1 TD and 1 INT in OT victory at Den. (12/31).

2005:
•Became first rookie to start at quarterback for 49ers since QB Jim Drucken­miller started at StL (9/7/97).
•Played first career game at Phi. (9/18), attempting 1 pass that fell incom­plete. Also rushed 1 time for 3 yds.
•Recorded first career completion for 15 yds. to WR Brandon Lloyd at Arz. in Mexico City (10/2) as he connected on 6 of 10 passes for 34 yds.
•Inactive 4 games after suffering knee injury from a LB LaVar Arrington hit vs. Was. (10/23).
•Returned to starting lineup vs. Arz. (12/4) and completed 16 of 24 passes for 185 yds. with 3 INTs. Completed first 8 passes and was 11 of 12 for 138 yds. in 1st half.
•Started at StL (12/24) and recorded first career win as a starter, finishing 12 of 16 for 131 yds. and a 98.7 QB rating.
•Threw first career TD vs. Hou. (1/1/06) on a 14-yd. pass to Lloyd in a 20-17 OT victory.

COLLEGE

•Boasted a 21-1 record as a starter at Utah and became first player in school history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Named The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated 2004 National Offensive Player of the Year after recording a career TD-to-INT ratio of 6.1:1, best among all passers that played college football in 2004. Earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors 6 times while guiding Utes to 12-0 record during final campaign with Utah. Named a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top passer. Added second-team Walter Camp All-American, Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous first-team All-Mountain West Conference accolades. Sophomore All-America honorable mention by College Sports Report. second-team All-Mountain West Conference pick. Earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors three times. Took over starting quarterback role in season’s third game vs. California. Appeared briefly in 2 games for Utah as a freshman.

PERSONAL

•Attended Helix (La Mesa, CA) HS with 2006 No. 2 overall draft selection Reg­gie Bush, guiding team to a 25-1 record during last two seasons, earning team MVP, National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete honors twice. Also voted two-time conference Offensive Player of the Year and team captain junior and senior years.
•Served as class president and graduated 13th in a class of 430.
•Father, Doug, played football at Weber State, where mother, Pam, also at­tended. Sister played soccer at Cal State Northridge. Uncle, John L. Smith, is a former college football head coach and present college football analyst.
•Born Alexander D. Smith (5/7/84) in Seattle, WA.
•Earned degree in economics.
•In 2006, Alex established the Alex Smith Foundation, which provides foster teens with the tools and resources needed to transition to successful adulthood.

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