CORAL GABLES – Derrick Smith was in the running to grab one of Miami’s two open starting safety positions.
He was in a tough competition with the likes of fellow safeties Amari Carter (junior; Palm Beach Gardens alum), Gurvan Hall (sophomore; Palm Beach Gardens alum), Bubba Bolden (redshirt sophomore; USC transfer), Robert Knowles (redshirt senior), and Keontra Smith (incoming freshman).
But when all the dust settled, the junior from Jacksonville decided to move on from the Hurricanes and enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal. He made the announcement official last night (Aug. 13) in a Twitter post on his account.
According to multiple media outlets, Derrick Smith did not attend practice on Tuesday (Aug. 13). It was revealed at the time by a UM spokesperson (again, according to at least one media report) that he was dealing with a personal matter.
The Trinity Christian Academy alum (6-2, 220 pounds) was seen by some analysts as a possible – and even probable – starter at safety with Hall (team-high three interceptions caught in two fall scrimmages). How it all changed for Derrick Smith is really unknown at this time, since his teammates and coaches have been raving about his overall production in training camp.
Miami co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda was complimentary of Derrick Smith’s performance on and off the field.
“I think he did a really good job in the offseason of spending a lot of time in the meeting room and getting extra work,” Banda told media members in a July 31 post-practice presser.
“I think he improved in the weight room and really dedicated himself in that area, and really bought into Coach Feeley. To be honest with you, the best thing that happened to Derrick was Coach Feeley and his staff. They did a tremendous job with him and countless other kids, if you haven’t noticed. So I think the biggest difference you see in him is a testament to our strength program and to him, because he has really got himself in that meeting room and really helped himself mentally. But he still has a long way to go.”
Senior striker Romeo Finley also raved about Derrick Smith’s overall production. He spoke to media members on July 30 about Smith’s commitment to getting better every day.
“He’s looking really good,” Finley said about Derrick Smith on July 30. “Right now, to me, he’s the most improved. He’s had a turnover every practice and I told him, since he didn’t get one yesterday (July 29), I told him to get two today and he got three. He just keeps getting better.”
What does this mean for the overall safety room?
Right now, it looks as if Hall and Carter are poised to lock up the two starting safety spots in advance of Miami’s Week 0 game against Florida (Aug. 24 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando; 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN). But Bolden, Knowles, and Keontra Smith will look to gain plenty of opportunities to get on the field and push the Palm Beach County duo on a daily basis.
There’s room for all five remaining key safeties to contribute in a big way this season under head coach Manny Diaz, defensive coordinator Blake Baker, and Banda. We’ll have to see what happens from this point forward.
We wish Derrick Smith the very best in whatever he decides to do next with his college football career and in his life.
