With a wide receiver room that has more question marks than the Riddler’s apartment, Ryan Poles continues to be aggressive this offseason by claiming Ihmir Smith-Marsette– or ISM for short– from the Minnesota Vikings. In an accompanying move, the Chicago Bears place N’Keal Harry on the reserved/injured list, which allows him to return as early as Week 5.
Prior to being drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith-Marsette was a stand-out receiver and returner for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
In his four seasons with the Hawkeyes, he accumulated 110 receptions for 1,889 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns. On top of that, ISM was a decently dangerous returner, as he returned 53 kicks for a total of 1,520 yards and two touchdowns in his time at the University of Iowa.
The Chicago Bears claim WR, Ihmir Smith-Marsette off waivers
As a returner, Ihmir Smith-Marsette ranked first among the Big Ten in return yards per kickoff return in 2018 (29.5 yards/return), 2019 (29.6 yards/return), and his career in total (28.7 yards/return). Oh, and how did he rank among the Big Ten for total kickoff returns in 2018? First again with 707 yards. Lastly, as a returner, Smith-Marsette ranked first in the Big Ten and second across the NCAA in kickoff return touchdowns with two
Now, those stats might not jump off the screen for those who are used to reading the stat sheets of SEC receivers or receivers in an air raid offense, but for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Smith-Marsette was an absolute playmaker when he got the ball in his hands.
Iowa just isn’t really the team to air the ball out 50 times per game, so, while Smith-Marsette didn’t have any seasons with more than five TDs, he was the type of receiver to make his minimal targets worthwhile.