Nate Kmic

Nate Kmic
Medal record
Men’s American football
Representing United States
World Championship

Nate Kmic
No. 36, 1
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	June 22, 1987 (age 34); Delta, Ohio
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Delta High School; (Delta, Ohio)
College:	Mount Union
Undrafted:	2011
Career history
	Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (2011);
Career highlights and awards
	IFAF World Champion (2011); IFAF World Championship MVP (2011); NCAA all-divisions career rushing yards leader (8,074); NCAA all-divisions career all-purpose yards leader (9,651); NCAA all-divisions career total touchdowns leader (130); Melberger Award (2008); Stagg Bowl MVP (2005); 3× NCAA Division III national champion (2005, 2006, 2008); 3× First Team All-American (2006, 2007, 2008); 3× First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (2006, 2007, 2008);

Nate Kmic (born June 22, 1987) is a former professional American football running back. He played college football at Mount Union College after graduating from Delta High School in rural Delta, Ohio

In his college career, he set rushing records for both NCAA Division III as well as the NCAA all-division record. At Mount Union, Kmic won three NCAA Division III football championships and was a three-time All-American and three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference running back.

After playing in the 2011 IFAF World Championship, representing Team USA, he signed a professional contract with the Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (Lapeenranta Border Knights) of the Finnish Maple League (Vaahteraliiga).

He later served as an assistant coach and running backs coach for the Mount Union Purple Raiders football team from 2009 to 2012.^[1] Since September 2012, Kmic has worked at Alro Steel Corporation, a distributor of metals, plastic, and industrial supplies.

College career[]

During the 2008 season, Kmic broke the Division III career record for rushing yards set in 2000 by R. J. Bowers of Grove City College.^[2] That year, he rushed for 2,790 yards and 43 touchdowns while also recording 262 receiving yards and 1 touchdown, setting the NCAA all-division single-season record for touchdowns with 44 and points with 264.

On December 13, 2008, he rushed for 310 yards against Wheaton College, helping lead the Purple Raiders to a 45–24 victory, earning them a trip to Salem, Virginia for the 2008 Stagg Bowl where they defeated the UW-Whitewater Warhawks 31–26 in the fourth consecutive meeting of the two programs for the Division III Championship.

In the semifinal game, Kmic brought his career rushing total to 7,986, surpassing the previous record of 7,962 held by Danny Woodhead of NCAA Division II Chadron State. Kmic rushed for 88 yards in the Stagg Bowl, bringing his total to 8,074, the most of any player in NCAA history, and the first and only player to rush for over 8,000 yards.^[3]

In April 2009, Kmic received the 2008 Melberger Award, granted annually to the outstanding Division III football player.

College statistics[]

			Rushing				Receiving				Kick Ret
Year	Team	GP	Att	Yards	Avg	TDs	Rec	Yards	Avg	TDs	Ret	Yds	Avg	TDs
2005	Mount Union	11	202	1,219	6.0	18	16	197	12.3	1	12	283	23.6	0
2006	Mount Union	15	336	2,365	7.0	26	20	173	8.6	2	14	333	23.8	0
2007	Mount Union	15	274	1,700	6.2	38	14	117	8.4	1	6	146	24.3	0
2008	Mount Union	15	377	2,790	7.4	43	25	262	10.5	1	5	66	13.2	0
College totals		56	1,189	8,074	6.8	125	75	749	10.0	5	37	828	22.4	0

Professional career[]

After the World Championship, and after an injury to American running back Mike Bolio.

Kmic signed a professional contract with Finnish top league Vaahteraliiga team Lappeenranta Rajaritarit, with whom he played the rest of the 2011 season. In final two regular season games, Kmic rushed for 265 yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns and also scored on a reception and kick return. ^[4] In his first professional game, he rushed for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kmic also scored an 86-yard kickoff return touchdown. ^[5] Lappeenranta finished the 2011 regular season with a 7–3 record.

The team lost in the Vaahteraliiga league playoff semi final game 38-28 to the Seinäjoki Crocodiles. Kmic did not find the endzone in the game, but rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries and had 5 receptions for 48 yards.

National team career[]

Kmic was selected to play for Team USA at the 2011 IFAF World Championship held in Austria, winning tournament MVP honors.^[6] The USA defeated Canada 50–7 in the gold medal game, which saw Kmic rushing for two touchdowns.^[7]

References[]

^ Kmic, University of Mount Union Athletics
^ Sims, Damon (November 30, 2008). "Nate Kmic reaches rushing record as Mount Union defeats Hobart, 42-7". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
^ "Purple Raiders' Kmic is 1st in NCAA overall to gain 8,000 yards rushing". ESPN. December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
^ Nate Kmic heads to the Finnish League on a quest to the Maple Bowl, IFAF
^ Mount Union Running Back Nate Kmic Shines in Finnish Debut But Team Falls, University of Mount Union Athletics
^ IFAF names World Championship All-Tournament Team, IFAF
^ USA defends World title with 50-7 victory over Canada, IFAF

External links[]

http://www.odaconline.com/staggbowl/08stagg_08recap.htm

[1] Kmic, University of Mount Union Athletics

[2] Sims, Damon (November 30, 2008). "Nate Kmic reaches rushing record as Mount Union defeats Hobart, 42-7". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.

[3] "Purple Raiders' Kmic is 1st in NCAA overall to gain 8,000 yards rushing". ESPN. December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2021.

[4] Nate Kmic heads to the Finnish League on a quest to the Maple Bowl, IFAF

[5] Mount Union Running Back Nate Kmic Shines in Finnish Debut But Team Falls, University of Mount Union Athletics

[6] IFAF names World Championship All-Tournament Team, IFAF

[7] USA defends World title with 50-7 victory over Canada, IFAF

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