:Darrell K. Smith
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (1961–2017)}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Daryl Smith (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1961|11|5}}
| birth_place = Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|02|13|1961|11|5}}
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| number = 1
| import = yes
| position1 = Wide receiver
| position2 = Slotback
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 192
| high_school = Ursuline (OH)
| college = Central State, Ohio
| playing_years1 = {{NFL Year|1984}}
| playing_team1 = Dallas Cowboys*
| playing_years2 = {{NFL Year|1985}}
| playing_team2 = Cincinnati Bengals*
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|1986}}–{{CFL Year|1992}}
| playing_team3 = Toronto Argonauts
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|1993}}
| playing_team4 = Edmonton Eskimos
| playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|1994}}
| playing_team5 = Shreveport Pirates*
| career_footnotes = * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
| career_highlights =
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1987}}, {{CFL Year|1990}}
| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|1987}}, {{CFL Year|1988}}, {{CFL Year|1989}}, {{CFL Year|1990}}, {{CFL Year|1991}}
}}
Darrell Karland Smith (November 5, 1961 – February 13, 2017) was a wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos. He played college football at Central State University.
Early life
Smith attended Ursuline High School, where he played as a quarterback, running back and defensive back. He also practiced basketball. He accepted a football scholarship from Central State University, with the intention of playing him at running back.
As senior in 1983, he led the team with 47 receptions for 814 yards (17.3-yard avg.) and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. He contributed to the team finishing with a 12–0 record school and making its first Division II playoff appearance, where they lost the title game to the University of North Dakota.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101721965/ | title=Central State Bids For Palm Bowl Title | access-date=February 19, 2019}}
Professional career
In 1984, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He was released on August 27.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/439514013/ | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2019}} On November 29, he was signed as a free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals, for the 1985 training camp.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101321098/ | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2019}} He was released on August 12, 1985.{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/436075700/ | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2019}}
In 1986, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
In 1990, he caught a league record of 20 touchdowns, to go along with 1,826 receiving yards.{{Cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/466145101.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11,+1991&author=Milt+Dunnell+TORONTO+STAR&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Darrell+K.+happy+with+lighter+load+only+if+Argos+win&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131211048/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/466145101.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11,+1991&author=Milt+Dunnell+TORONTO+STAR&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Darrell+K.+happy+with+lighter+load+only+if+Argos+win&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Darrell K. happy with lighter load only if Argos win|last=Dunnell|first=Milt|date=November 11, 1991|website=The Star|language=en|access-date=2017-02-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/uploads/assets/CFL/PDF_Docs/2009_RegSeason_Records.pdf|title=Canadian Football League - All-Time Records|publisher=Canadian Football League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504122017/http://www.cfl.ca/uploads/assets/CFL/PDF_Docs/2009_RegSeason_Records.pdf|archive-date=May 4, 2015|access-date=2017-02-14}} He finished his career with the Argonauts with 465 receptions for 8,144 yards, 52 touchdowns and 84 kickoffs returns for 1,139 yards. He set team records for single-season touchdown receptions (20), consecutive games with a reception (96) and average yards per catch (17.5). He ranks second All-time in career and single-season 200-yard receiving games (2), third in receiving yards in a single-season (1,826) and 100-yard receiving games (25), and fifth in receiving touchdowns (111) and combined yards (9,374).{{cite web| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/darrell-k-smith-all-star-argo-held-a-touchdown-record/article34196983/ | title=Darrell K. Smith: All-star Argo held a touchdown record | access-date=February 19, 2019}} He appeared in two Grey Cup games with the Argonauts, losing in 1987 and winning in 1991.
In January 1993, he was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos as a part of the largest trade in CFL history, involving 16 players.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2008/03/06/significant_qb_trades_in_cfl_history/|title=Significant QB Trades in CFL History|date=March 6, 2008|publisher=Canadian Football League|access-date=2017-02-14}} In August, he was released after appearing in 4 games.
In 1994, he signed as a free agent with the Canadian Football League expansion franchise Shreveport Pirates. He was released before the start of the season. He finished his football career with 476 receptions for 8,236 yards and 52 touchdowns.
Personal life
On February 13, 2017, he died of cancer at the age of 55.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2017/02/14/former-argos-receiver-darrell-k-smith-dead-at-55.html|title=Former Argos receiver Darrell K. Smith dead at 55|date=February 14, 2017|work=Toronto Star|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=15 February 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/former-argo-darrell-k-smith-dead-at-55-1.671378|title=Former Argo Darrell K. Smith dead at 55|date=February 14, 2017|newspaper=The Star|access-date=2017-02-14}} His brother was former NFL player Sherman Smith.
Married: Frances Foster Children: Daimeyon K Smith
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{CFL receiving yardage leaders}}
{{79th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Darrell}}
Category:Players of American football from Youngstown, Ohio
Category:Players of Canadian football from Ohio
Category:Canadian football slotbacks
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Central State Marauders football players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players