No. 53 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Fullback / Linebacker | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S. | January 17, 1963||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Beaufort (SC) Battery Creek | ||||||||||
College: | West Virginia | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1986 / Round: 7 / Pick: 182 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Career Arena statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Player stats at PFR · ArenaFan.com |
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. [1]
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. [2] 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. [3] [4]
Smalls was selected in the seventh round, 182nd overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft. [5] [6] However, he was cut in August 1986. [7]
In 1987, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). [8] 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. [9] [10]
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.
Smalls then played for the Cologne Crocodiles in the German Football League until 1994.
Richard Marvin Butkus was an American football linebacker, sports commentator, and actor. He played football for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was invited to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons, named a first-team All-Pro five times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Butkus was renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in professional football history.
John Frederick Dryer is an American actor, radio host, and former professional football player.
Daniel Lee Dierdorf is an American sportscaster and former football player. He played 13 seasons (1971–1983) as an offensive tackle for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).
Garry Wilbert Cobb is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Southern California. He is currently a Philadelphia Eagles analyst for Fox affiliate WTXF-TV and 94.1 WIP.
Michael Edward Zordich is a former American football defensive back and is a defensive backs coach for the Central Michigan. He played college football at Penn State. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL draft.
Johnie Earl Cooks was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Cooks was selected by the Baltimore Colts as the second overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. He played from 1982 to 1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the Giants when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 20–19 in Super Bowl XXV. Cooks played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan as a linebacker from 1976 to 1979. He became Michigan's all-time career tackle leader in 1979 and was a consensus first-team selection for the 1979 College Football All-America Team. He later played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers (1988).
George Eldon Andrews, II is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams.
John G. Nix is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. He also was a member of the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi.
David John Levenick is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Wisconsin. He was drafted in the 12th round by the Atlanta Falcons.
Keshon Lorenzo Johnson is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft.
Keith Phillip Williams is a former American football offensive guard. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Marc Christopher Munford is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).
Terrance Lynn Unrein is a former American football nose tackle and current Chief Commercial Officer - Americas for SEKO Worldwide Logistics. He played college football at Colorado State. He was selected in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
John Donovan DeWitt is an American chiropractor and former arena football offensive line / defensive lineman. He played college football at Vanderbilt.
Tarell Basham is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Ohio, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Donald Cortez Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.
Terrill Hanks is an American football linebacker for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at New Mexico State. He played for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL) and DC Defenders and San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Al'Malik Demichia Herring is an American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Quency Leon Williams was an American gridiron football defensive end who played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played college football at Auburn and also had stints with the Birmingham Stallions, Los Angeles Raiders, Arizona Outlaws and BC Lions. He won the 78th Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers.