With a few seconds, three bone-jarring broken tackles and a very minimalist title — “Vincent Smith breaks” — the true freshman running back became somewhat of a YouTube sensation last spring.

Smith, who graduated early from Pahokee High School in Pahokee, Fla., transformed from a relatively unheralded recruit to one of the most talked-about players of the spring practice session after the video was leaked onto the Internet.

And when he backed up that talk a few weeks later in Michigan's spring game — the hype was official.

“Vincent Smith came right in the spring game and didn’t score once, he scored twice,” Pahokee defensive coordinator Rick James said last summer. “If that don’t tell people we’re serious about the game of football, I don’t know what will.”

But it’s been slow going for Smith since then. In between a modest but welcoming debut in Michigan’s season-opening drubbing of Western Michigan and last weekend, Smith tallied just three carries for 12 yards.

Week in and week out, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has talked about getting Smith the ball more so the freshman can gain more experience. And week in and week out, the 5-foot-6 back stayed on the sidelines as the rest of the Wolverines’ deep stable of running backs carried the load.

“Mike Shaw and Vincent Smith, those two in particular, we've got to get more game action,” Rodriguez repeated last Wednesday. “I can't expect them to go out there and not have mistakes if we don't play them more.”

The lack of playing time was starting to take a toll on the Smith family, specifically his cousin Tyrone Smith, who trekked the 1,300 miles north to visit Vincent for the Western Michigan game.

“We was getting a little frustrated down here by the playing time,” Tyrone said in a phone interview yesterday. “He works so hard. … He was just waiting for his chance out there.”

Finally on Saturday, Rodriguez’s goal to get Smith some meaningful game experience came true — and he made the most of the opportunity.

On 17 carries, the pint-sized runner racked up a game-high 166 yards and one touchdown. Although Rodriguez said Monday that Smith missed a few reads during the game, the coach was obviously very pleased with the breakout game.

“I had no idea I was going to get this many carries,” Smith said. “But I was mentally and physically prepared for anything.”

Smith averaged almost 10 yards a carry and showcased a near-innate ability to find the second level of the defense, and he said after the game that reading defenses is one of his biggest strengths.

But what was most surprising about the 168-pound back’s performance was the tackle-breaking skills Michigan fans first saw in the YouTube video last spring.

“It was amazing,” said freshman linebacker Brandin Hawthorne, who played with Smith in high school. “Like I’ve been telling all my new teammates, I grew up with him. I know him, and I know what he’s capable of doing.”

When Smith easily strolled into the end zone for his first career touchdown midway through the first quarter, he was swarmed by teammates who were ready to slap him on the back and cheer with him. Smith slipped through the congratulatory scrum and leaped into the hands of tight end Martell Webb, stretching out his arms in celebration.

It was a culmination of almost 10 months worth of work — just for that one moment.

“Oh yeah, you could tell by the tone of his voice that he was so happy,” Tyrone said of the phone call he received from Smith after the game. “The touchdown was amazing. The whole family got together to watch it. I just hope he gets a chance this Saturday against a tough team, a Big Ten opponent.”