Nate Kmic
Encyclopedia
Nate Kmic is an American football
running back
for the Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (Lapeenranta Border Knights) of the Finnish Maple League. Kmic played college football for Mount Union College
Purple Raiders football team. Kmic graduated from Pike-Delta-York High School in Ohio. In his career, he set rushing records for both NCAA Division III as well as the NCAA all-division record.
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
. 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, VA for the 2008 Stagg Bowl where 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.
In April 2009, Kmic received the 2008 Melberger Award
, granted annually to the outstanding Division III football player.
In July 2011, Kmic was named the MVP of the IFAF World Championship in Austria, which the USA won after defeating Canada in the final, a game in which Kmic rushed for 2 touchdowns.
After the World Cup, Kmic signed a contract with Finnish top flight team Lapeenranta Border Knights.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Lappeenranta Rajaritarit (Lapeenranta Border Knights) of the Finnish Maple League. Kmic played college football for Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
Purple Raiders football team. Kmic graduated from Pike-Delta-York High School in Ohio. In his career, he set rushing records for both NCAA Division III as well as the NCAA all-division record.
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
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
. On December 13, 2008, he rushed for 310 yards against Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
, helping lead the Purple Raiders to a 45-24 victory, earning them a trip to Salem, VA for the 2008 Stagg Bowl where defeated the UW-Whitewater Warhawks
UW-Whitewater Warhawks
The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks are the athletic teams of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Twenty Warhawk athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III...
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
Danny Woodhead
Danny Woodhead is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Chadron State....
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.
In April 2009, Kmic received the 2008 Melberger Award
Melberger Award
The Melberger Award is given annually to an outstanding U.S. college football player in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The award is named after Clifford Melberger and is presented by Diversified Information Technologies, which Mr...
, granted annually to the outstanding Division III football player.
In July 2011, Kmic was named the MVP of the IFAF World Championship in Austria, which the USA won after defeating Canada in the final, a game in which Kmic rushed for 2 touchdowns.
After the World Cup, Kmic signed a contract with Finnish top flight team Lapeenranta Border Knights.