Rod Smith inducted into college football hall of fame

SOUTH BEND, IN - It was an unlikely journey for one of the NFL's most prolific receivers. 

Rod Smith, an All-American receiver from Missouri Southern, entered the College Hall of Fame Saturday night in South Bend, Indiana.

Missouri Southern's Outstanding Graduate award was bestowed upon him in 1994 as he earned an impressive three degrees in economics and finance, general business and marketing and management. "I always try and learn," Smith said in an interview. "I explain it to my teammates how over the last 10 years, every guy that's come in here, I try and take something from that guy."

As a free agent in the NFL, the Denver Broncos signed him and he began blasting previous records, becoming the first and only undrafted free agent to ever have surpassed the 10,000-receiving-yard mark. With eight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards, Smith continued to burn his defenders as a starting wide receiver in the Broncos' 1997 and 1998 Super Bowl victories. With the most catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions of any undrafted wide receiver in NFL history, Smith retired in 2006.

*Collegefootbal.org contributed to this story