Derron Smith facts for kids

Derron Smith, born on February 4, 1992, is a former American football player. He played as a safety, a defensive position, in professional football. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Growing Up: A Sports Star

Derron Smith grew up in Banning, California. He went to Banning High School. There, he was a star in three different sports: football, basketball, and track and field.

In football, he played as a safety, quarterback, and punter for the Banning Broncos. During his senior year, he made 109 tackles and caught six interceptions on defense. On offense, he ran for 1,579 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

He was also a great basketball player, scoring more than 17 points per game. In track and field, Derron was one of the best long jumpers in California. He had a top jump of 7.13 meters (about 23 feet, 2 inches) at a big competition in 2010.

Experts who scouted young players, like Rivals.com and Scout.com, thought he was a very good player. They called him a "three-star recruit." This means he was considered one of the top players in his age group. He chose to play college football at Fresno State. He also had offers from other universities like Nebraska and San Diego State.

College Football Journey

Derron started playing college football at Fresno State University in 2010. As a true freshman (a first-year student), he played on special teams and as a backup safety. He finished that year with 28 tackles.

In 2011, during his sophomore year, Derron played in only three games. He broke his arm and received a special permission from the NCAA called a "medical hardship waiver." This allowed him to play another year later on. He still made 16 tackles and had an interception that season.

In 2012, as a "redshirt sophomore" (meaning he used his extra year of eligibility), Derron was chosen for the first-team All-Mountain West Conference. He had 79 tackles and six interceptions. The next year, in 2013, he was again a first-team All-Mountain West player. He recorded 87 tackles, eight interceptions, and four sacks.

Derron returned for his senior season in 2014. He started that year as the player with the most interceptions (14) among all active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Playing Pro Football

Derron Smith was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft. The NFL draft is where professional football teams pick college players to join their teams.

Cincinnati Bengals

Derron played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2015 to 2017. On November 4, 2017, the Bengals released him, meaning he was no longer on their main team. However, they signed him again to their practice squad shortly after. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the active roster for games.

Cleveland Browns

On November 9, 2017, the Cleveland Browns signed Derron Smith. They took him from the Bengals' practice squad. He was with the Browns until August 31, 2018, when he was waived, meaning the team released him.

San Antonio Commanders

In December 2018, Derron signed with the San Antonio Commanders. This team was part of a new league called the Alliance of American Football (AAF).

Minnesota Vikings

On April 5, 2019, Derron Smith signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was released by the team on August 31, 2019, during the final roster cuts before the season started.

Dallas Renegades

In October 2019, Derron was chosen by the Dallas Renegades in the 2020 XFL Draft. The XFL was another professional football league. His contract ended when the league stopped playing games on April 10, 2020.