Alva Review-Courier -

After a successful ten years as an Indianapolis Colt, punter and place-kick holder Hunter Smith was signed by the Washington Redskins for the 2009 season. The Redskins were hapless that year, finishing with a record of four wins and 12 losses. Smith’s season, however, was quite successful.

Smith was always under pressure when handling snaps from center to get the ball placed perfectly for the kicker. But sometimes a team will “fake” a kick and have the holder run the ball or pass it to another player.

In his very first game as a Redskin, on Sept. 13, 2009, Smith was called upon to run the ball on a fake field goal attempt. He scored a touchdown on an 8-yard run even though his team lost the game.

Then, on Nov. 29, on another fake field goal play against the Denver Broncos, Smith threw a touchdown pass of 35 yards to fullback Mike Sellers. Washington won, 27-17.

The latter play, one of only two completed passes Smith threw in his National Football League (NFL) career, made him the first NFL holder to run and pass for touchdowns in the same season!

But the success of 2009 did not carry over to the next season. After 12 weeks in 2010, Washington had a 5-7 record. The team needed to win its remaining 4 games to finish 9-7 and perhaps play in the post season.

At that point, Washington played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 12. Late in the fourth quarter, Washington trailed 17-10, but the Redskins scored with 9 seconds left in the game. The extra point, if successful, would send the game into overtime and keep the Redskins’ hopes for a playoff berth alive.

What happened? When the center snapped the ball to Smith, it slipped through his hands and kicker Graham Gano did not have a chance to kick it. Washington lost the game and the Redskins cut Smith from their roster immediately thereafter. The “best holder” in football never played in another professional football game!