Young Athlete Spotlight: Derron Smith
Re-edited by Naomi K. Bonman
FRESNO, CA- Derron Smith, Banning, California native, was recently named by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to the 2014 Loft IMPACT Trophy watch list. He was one of 42 players on the list. He plays football for the Fresno State Bulldogs in the position of safety. Every year the IMPACT trophy goes to the college defensive player who has the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
In addition, Smith is a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection and enters his senior year as the nation’s active leader in career interceptions with 14. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2013 Mountain West championship game, which was the second-straight conference championship Smith has helped lead the Bulldogs to. Smith was also a quarterfinalist for the award last season where he tied for second in the nation with seven interceptions, one of which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl against USC. He had 18 tackles in the game against USC, which set a new Mountain West record and tied the Fresno State record for tackles in a bowl game.
For those that would love to listen in to Smith and his teammates during football season, the official Fresno State Bulldogs station is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.