Smith making mark on league
Acquired to add depth in secondary, safety works his way to standout starter in the AAF
After growing up in Banning, Calif., and playing at Fresno State, Derron Smith was looking forward to staying home with the San Diego Fleet when he agreed to join the Alliance of American Football in December.
San Diego held his rights through the league’s regional allocation system, but just one day after telling his agent he wanted to play in the AAF, Smith learned he was traded to the San Antonio Commanders.
“I was a little down on it at first, because I kind of wanted to stay in California,” Smith said. “But I think it’s worked out pretty good.”
Commanders general manager Daryl Johnston said San Antonio added Smith to provide depth in the secondary. He didn’t earn a starting role until Week 3, but he has established himself as one of the top safeties in the Alliance.
At the midpoint of the season, Smith (5-11, 197 pounds) has earned a grade of 93.3 from Pro Football Focus. No other safety has graded better than 82.
“We’re very happy with that trade and the deal we made because of what Derron has proven,” Johnston said. “Not just his ability on the field. He’s quiet in
the DB room, but he’s the one guy that the guys look to. He’s kind of the calming factor in a very raucous bunch of defensive backs on our team.”
Smith was flipped for defensive end Damontre Moore, who leads the Fleet with four sacks this season.
Smith ranks second on the team with 21 total tackles and five passes defended. He pulled in his first two interceptions in Sunday’s win over the Arizona Hotshots, returning the first 66 yards for a touchdown.
“It can be better,” Smith said. “Especially a player like me, I grade myself real hard. I can go off the top of my head four or five plays I wish I had back to make a better play. But we have to go with the flow, keep our confidence and keep making plays.”
Johnston said Smith didn’t generate a lot of noise early in training camp but “made a big push right toward the end.”
Smith said he needed time to earn the trust of the coaching staff.
“You always want to be a starter, but nothing is ever given to you,” Smith said. “I’ve never had it given to me in my life. Working hard for it, knowing what I can do, and going out there and doing it.”
Smith, 27, was an All-Mountain West Conference first-team selection for three consecutive seasons before being drafted in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015.
He played two seasons and part of a third with the Bengals before being released and signed by the Cleveland Browns for the second half of the 2017 campaign, appearing
in 38 games across three years overall.
“He’s a student of the game,” Johnston said. “He sees things. Some people may say he’s a step slow, but I think he makes up for that with his preparation and his ability to see things.”
Smith bolsters a San Antonio secondary that leads the AAF with nine interceptions after pulling in three during Week 5. The Commanders have won back-to-back games and are 3-2 as they prepare to visit the Atlanta Legends (2-3) at 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Derron is one of those guys that has a ton of instinct,” coach Mike Riley said. “He really, really kind of sees stuff that other people don’t see. And he reacts quickly to it.”