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Derron Smith facts for kids

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Derron Smith, born on February 4, 1992, is an American former professional football player. He played as a safety, which is a defensive position in American football. Derron played college football for Fresno State University.

Quick facts for kids
Derron Smith
No. 40, 31, 36
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1992-02-04) February 4, 1992 (age 33)
Banning, California, U.S.
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Banning
College: Fresno State
NFL Draft: 2015 / Round: 6 / Pick: 197
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 17
Pass deflections: 1
Player stats at PFR

Early Life and Sports Talents

Derron Smith grew up in Banning, California. He went to Banning High School. There, he was a fantastic athlete in three different sports. He played football, basketball, and ran track.

Football Achievements in High School

On the football field, Derron played many roles for the Banning Broncos. He was a safety on defense. He also played quarterback and punter. In his final year, he made 109 tackles and caught six interceptions. On offense, he ran for 1,579 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

Basketball and Track Skills

Derron was also a star on the basketball court. He scored more than 17 points per game. In track and field, he was one of the best long jumpers in California. He had a top jump of 7.13 meters (about 23 feet, 2 inches).

Choosing a College

Experts thought Derron was a very good football recruit. He was ranked as one of the top players in California. He decided to play college football at Fresno State University. He chose Fresno State over other schools like Nebraska.

College Football Career

Derron Smith started his college career at Fresno State University in 2010. As a first-year student, he played on special teams and as a backup safety. He ended that year with 28 tackles.

Overcoming Injuries

In 2011, during his second year, Derron played in only three games. He broke his arm, which kept him off the field. The NCAA gave him a special waiver. This allowed him to play another year later on. He still managed to get 16 tackles and one interception that season.

Becoming a Star Player

In 2012, Derron became a key player for Fresno State. He was chosen for the first-team All-Mountain West Conference. He made 79 tackles and caught six interceptions. In 2013, he was again a first-team All-Mountain West player. That year, he had 87 tackles, eight interceptions, and four sacks. Derron returned for his senior year in 2014. He was the active leader in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for interceptions with 14.

Professional Football Journey

Derron Smith began his professional football career in 2015. He was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Playing for NFL Teams

He played for the Bengals from 2015 to 2017. In November 2017, the Bengals released him. He then joined their practice squad. Soon after, the Cleveland Browns signed him from the Bengals' practice squad. He was with the Browns until August 2018.

Other Leagues

In December 2018, Derron signed with the San Antonio Commanders. This team was part of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). In April 2019, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. However, he was released before the regular season began. In October 2019, Derron was picked by the Dallas Renegades in the 2020 XFL Draft. His contract ended when the XFL league stopped operations in April 2020.

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