Antowain Smith was drafted No. 23 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Houston. 131 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 48 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #23
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 131
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 486th at Houston
The pick
How Antowain Smith came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Running back RB
- College
-
Houston
Big 12 at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
131 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 48 career approximate value
- Games played
- 131
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 486th among Houston picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1838% of career value
- Final season
- 20058 years after the draft
Around pick 23
Who came off the board on either side of Antowain Smith.
Notre Dame
LSU
Maryland
Virginia
Houston in the 1997 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other RB picks from Houston
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Antowain Smith in the 1997 NFL Draft
Antowain Smith is a Running back out of Houston selected No. 23 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1997 NFL Draft. 131 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 48 career approximate value Houston has produced 83 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Antowain Smith drafted?
Antowain Smith was selected No. 23 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/antowain-smith.
What college did Antowain Smith play for?
Antowain Smith played college football at Houston in the Big 12. See every Houston draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/houston-cougars.
How did Antowain Smith's NFL career turn out?
131 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 48 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/antowain-smith.