As atrue freshman at West Virginia in 2013, Smallwood played in 12 games and rushed for 221 yards on 39carries with onetouchdown. He also served as akick returner, returning 30 kickoffs for a total of 541 yards.[2][6] As a sophomore, he played in all 13 games and made nine starts. He had 722 rushing yards on 148 carries and two touchdowns.[7] He also recorded 31 receptions, fifth most in school history for a single season.[2][8] As a junior in 2015, Smallwood rushed for aBig 12 Conference-leading 1,519 yards on 238 carries with nine touchdowns.[9][10] With 2,462 rushing yards in his collegiate career, he finished ninth in school history.[11] After the season, he decided to forego his senior season and entered the2016 NFL draft.[12][13] While at West Virginia, hemajored incriminology with a minor in communications.[2]
On September 25, 2016, Smallwood scored his first career rushing touchdown in a 34–3 win against thePittsburgh Steelers. Due to an ankle injury limiting starterRyan Mathews to only two carries, Smallwood was the featured back for the Eagles, recording 89 yards and the touchdown on 17 carries. In Week 6 against theWashington Redskins, he scored his first kickoff return touchdown and the NFL's first kickoff return touchdown of the season. He was placed oninjured reserve on December 12, 2016, finishing his rookie season with 312 rushing yards and a touchdown.[18][19]
In the 2017 season, Smallwood finished with 174 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 13receptions, and 103 receiving yards.[20] During his second year in the NFL, the Eagles defeated theNew England Patriots by a score of 41–33, giving them their firstSuper Bowl championship in franchise history.[21][22]
In the 2018 season, Smallwood continued to share a deep backfield. In Week 3, he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season against theIndianapolis Colts.[23] Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 364 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions, 230 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.[24] The Eagles made the playoffs as the #6-seed. In theWild Card Round against theChicago Bears, he had 20 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards in the 16–15 victory.[25] In theDivisional Round against theNew Orleans Saints, he had 33 rushing yards and a six-yard reception in the 20–14 loss.[26]
Smallwood was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[27]
Smallwood alongside his teammates in a game against theNew York Jets
On September 1, 2019, Smallwood was claimed off waivers by theWashington Redskins.[28] In the 2019 season, he appeared in 15 games and recorded 22 carries for 81 rushing yards to go along with nine receptions for 64 receiving yards.[29]
On July 28, 2020, Smallwood signed with thePittsburgh Steelers.[30] He was waived on September 5, 2020, and re-signed to thepractice squad two days later.[31][32] He was elevated to the active roster on December 2 for the team's week 12 game against theBaltimore Ravens, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[33] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 18, 2021.[34]
Smallwood is the son of Nichelle Barber and Wendell Smallwood. Growing up, he was a Philadelphia Eagles fan, his favorite player beingDuce Staley, who became his position coach upon Smallwood being drafted by the Eagles.[2]
In July 2014, Smallwood was arrested inDelaware oncharges ofwitness tampering.[38] Smallwood was accused of trying to get a witness torecant statements they made implicating a friend of Smallwood's, Zakee Lloyd, charged withfirst-degree murder.[39][40] The same day, the charges against Smallwood were dropped when prosecutors claimed Smallwood agreed to cooperate and testify at trial, Lloyd pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.[41][42][43][44]
In November 2024, Smallwood was charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.[45] He plead guilty to defrauding the federal government's COVID relief programs of over $645k while taking full responsibility. On September 18, 2025 Smallwood was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison and repay the stolen funds. Smallwood, who is finishing a bachelors degree at West Virginia University, was ordered to report to federal prison in mid-December after his schooling.[46]
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