Fred Smalls

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1963)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Fred Smalls

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 53

| position = Fullback / Linebacker

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|01|17|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 225

| high_school = Beaufort (SC) Battery Creek

| college = West Virginia

| draftyear = 1986

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 182

| pastteams =

San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1986}})*
Ottawa Rough Riders ({{CFL Year|1987}})
Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1987}})
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1988}})*
Pittsburgh Gladiators ({{AFL Year|1990}})
Washington Commandos (1990)
Albany Firebirds ({{AFL Year|1991}})
Cologne Crocodiles (1992-1994)

| highlights =

All-American (1984)
First-team All-East (1985)

| statlabel1 = Sacks

| statvalue1 = 2.5

| aflstatlabel1 = Total tackles

| aflstatvalue1 = 27

| aflstatlabel2 = Sacks

| aflstatvalue2 = 2

| aflstatlabel3 = Receptions / Yards

| aflstatvalue3 = 3 / 25

| aflstatlabel4 = Rushes / Yards

| aflstatvalue4 = 12 / 44

| aflstatlabel5 = Touchdowns

| aflstatvalue5 = 1

| pfr = S/SmalFr21

| afl = Fred_Smalls-1480

}}

Frederick R. Smalls (born January 7, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and German Football League (GFL).

Smalls was born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina and played scholastically at Battery Creek High School.{{cite web| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmalFr21.htm |title=Fred Smalls Stats |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=May 28, 2024}}

College career

Smalls enrolled at West Virginia University in 1982. In his freshman season, he recorded six tackles, a fumble recovery. In, 1983 as a sophomore, he recorded 13 tackles and a pass break-up as a backup.

In 1984, as a junior, Smalls earned the starting position. That season, he recorded 87 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two sacks. He was named to the NEA All-America team.{{cite news

|title=USC's Seawright named to NEA All-America team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9150140/uscs_seawright_named_to_nea/ |last=Olderman |first=Murray |newspaper=The Index-Journal |publisher=NEA |date=November 20, 1984 |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}} As a senior, in 1985, Smalls totaled 97 tackles, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and three sacks. He was also named to the AP All-East team.{{cite news |title=Top-ranked Nittany Lions dominate AP's All-East team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9149325/topranked_nittany_lions_dominate_aps/ |newspaper=The Index-Journal |publisher=AP |date=December 17, 1985 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}}{{cite news |title=All-East team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9149725/alleast_team/ |newspaper=The Salina Journal |publisher=AP |date=December 17, 1985 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}}

Professional career

=National Football League=

Smalls was selected in the seventh round, 182nd overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite news

|title=Football: NFL Draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9148116/football_nfl_draft/ |newspaper=The Salina Journal |date=April 30, 1986 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}} However, he was cut in August 1986.{{cite news |title=Monday's Sports Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9150221/mondays_sports_transactions/ |newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=August 19, 1986 |page=34 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}}

In 1987, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9149902/transactions/ |newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=June 27, 1988 |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}} Also in 1987, he played three games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987. In 1988, he spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during training camp before retiring in July.{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9149593/transactions/ |newspaper=Galveston Daily News |date=July 14, 1988 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}}{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9149635/transactions/ |newspaper=The Salina Journal |date=July 14, 1988 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 24, 2017}} {{free access}}

=Arena Football League=

In 1990, Smalls joined the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL). He only spent a short part of 1990 with the Gladiators, recording five tackles. He then moved to the Washington Commandos, where he played fullback along with linebacker. He finished the season with 18 tackles and a sack on defense with the Commandos and three receptions for 25 yards and 12 rushes for 44 yards and a touchdown on offense. In 1991, Smalls joined the Albany Firebirds. That season, he recorded four tackles and a sack.