WATCH: Daniel Smith’s absurd touchdown pass in Villanova’s loss to Delaware continues to be amongst the most baffling throws in all of football
Daniel Smith's somersault pass to Charlie Gilroy in Villanova's loss to Delaware remains unforgettable to date.
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Daniel Smith (Background image via Villanova Athletics, Image in circle via Open Source)
Over the years, fans have seen some ridiculous throws being made in college football. But when asked about the question of the most bizarre throw in CFB in recent memory, it is hard to beat Daniel Smith‘s throw to Charlie Gilroy in 2021.
The Villanova quarterback is not an individual whose name comes up when you talk about the best floor generals in college football, but this one play makes his highlight reel stand out. In the Wildcats matchup against Delaware in 2021, Smith threw a somersault pass to his tight end as his team trailed by 2 touchdowns.
With under 3:15 left on the clock, the Wildcats were at Delaware’s 10-yard line and after faking a hand-off to the running back, Daniel Smith ran to his right, attempting to find an open receiver, but had no time as the defense nearly caught up to him. It was at this point, that he did the unthinkable.
Daniel Smith will continue to have the title of the wildest TD pass for years to come
The quarterback tripped after the defense caught his left leg, and Smith, rather than hold the ball or throw it out of bounds, opted to toss it straight into the air toward Gilroy. Mind you, Smith threw the ball while he was somersaulting (not voluntarily).
The ball went right into the hands of Gilroy who was able to get open and jump up to grab it right in the endzone! The sequence of events was astonishing, to say the least.
This was a pass that could not be replicated on Madden or by Patrick Mahomes! Some might call it a fluke, while some might call it a calculated risk, but neither can deny that this completion was the highlight of the game.
Might be the craziest play I've EVER seen on a football field. pic.twitter.com/QgikrtQlBL
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) September 12, 2024
Delaware went on to win the game 27-20, but to date, all that fans remember is Daniel Smith’s throw. The quarterback did something that none of his peers in the 2021 Draft class did.
An argument can be made that this one throw was possibly better than the NFL career highlights of QBs from his draft class such as Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones. This throw is one that he will continue to reminisce for decades to come!
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Sumedh Joshi
(2235 Articles Published)