Smith goes from JUCO castoff to D-I scholarship

Harry · November 8, 2012

Darnell Smith thought his college football career was just beginning in 2009 when he sat down with his coach at Trinity Valley Community College.

What Smith heard that day, after spending just a few months at the school, changed the course of his life.

“After my first semester, the coach there told me I was too slow and let me go,” Smith said. “It hurt me so bad. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

That day was the first of several over the last few years that made Smith question his football future, which suddenly looks a lot brighter following North Texas’ loss to Arkansas State last week.

The former South Garland standout fought and scratched his way through two junior colleges and the walk-on program at UNT, earned a role with the Mean Green and finally got his shot to shine against the Red Wolves.

Smith took full advantage of his opportunity while catching seven passes for 107 yards to pace UNT’s depleted offense that desperately needed someone to step forward. The Mean Green was without one of its top playmakers in Brelan Chancellor, not to mention another key member of its receiving corps in Derrick Teegarden. Both are out for the year with injuries.

“No one had any expectations for him,” UNT head coach Dan McCarney said of Smith. “For him to come in and be that kind of story and all of the sudden — at a Division I school in a game against a defending conference champion — have more than 100 receiving yards shows that it goes right back to work ethic and what he puts into it.”

Smith’s coaches and teammates say that he has put everything into finding a place where he can contribute.

McCarney said there might not be a player on UNT’s roster who watches more film than Smith, who is always holed up in an office somewhere with a remote in his hand.

Smith didn’t have much choice if he wanted to earn a role after arriving at UNT, which had several players ahead of him on the depth chart. Those players knew the Mean Green’s offense inside and out heading into fall practice after spending months learning the system.

“In two-a-days, he didn’t know the offense very well,” UNT quarterback Derek Thompson said of Smith. “He was literally in the office with the coaches sometimes until 10 at night trying to get it down. He’s not perfect and makes mistakes, but the excitement he brings to our offense is crucial. If we had more guys like him, it would be really helpful.”

read more: http://www.dentonrc....scholarship.ece

Harry · November 8, 2012

Good article and I'm proud of Smith beating the odds. However, this article really gives you an idea of how DOWN the talent level depth is at UNT right now. Dodge left this program in a mess and it will takes years to build it up.

greenminer · November 8, 2012

All we need is a deep threat? I know this is not a one-step solution, but it can't take 2 - 3 years to recruit a couple guys that have wheels. According to many on this board, we already have a guy on the sideline, waiting in the wings that can get the ball to them.

adman · November 8, 2012

Good article and I'm proud of Smith beating the odds. However, this article really gives you an idea of how DOWN the talent level depth is at UNT right now. Dodge left this program in a mess and it will takes years to build it up.

I was thinking the same thing Harry. To be cut from Juco for being too slow. Wow.

Congratulations to you Darnell and your undying commitment to success. Your attitude and work ethic will carry you much further than a football field.

Censored by Laurie · November 8, 2012

:thumbsup:

Also, Darnell Smith is this year's Ivan Delgado

Green P1 · November 8, 2012

Good article and I'm proud of Smith beating the odds. However, this article really gives you an idea of how DOWN the talent level depth is at UNT right now. Dodge left this program in a mess and it will takes years to build it up.

Especially when you factor in the first two Mac classes not including a single consistent playmaker... it will take years and years to build it up.

H-towngreen · November 8, 2012

Especially when you factor in the first two Mac classes not including a single consistent playmaker... it will take years and years to build it up.

Sadly we had other more glaring needs to get to. Basically very position on D, especially DB and DL.

CurveItAround · November 8, 2012

It remains to be seen, but I think the receiving corp is in pretty decent shape for next season. Some of our potential will depend on whether or not Terrell is capable of stepping in and providing an upgrade over an already solid Delgado. Schrapps and Lancaster seem to the speed to provide a deep threat to go along with Smith, Pleasant, and Sampson on the other side, and things are actually getting crowded at the slot. Schrapps and Lancaster going down early left a big question mark about what we actually have, but the depth seems to have irmproved so there should be some good battles come spring. And we still don't know for sure what this year's signing class will look like.

UNTLifer · November 8, 2012

Especially when you factor in the first two Mac classes not including a single consistent playmaker... it will take years and years to build it up.

Jimmerson?

Green P1 · November 8, 2012

Jimmerson?

Mac doesn't trust him enough to start him over Byrd. Is that a consistent playmaker?

BillySee58 · November 8, 2012

Mac doesn't trust him enough to start him over Byrd. Is that a consistent playmaker?

Despite these trust issues Jim Jim has scored 6 tds in the last 4 games. The rest of our offense, not including Chancellor, has scored just 5 touchdowns this entire year against FBS opponents.

UNT90 · November 8, 2012

It remains to be seen, but I think the receiving corp is in pretty decent shape for next season. Some of our potential will depend on whether or not Terrell is capable of stepping in and providing an upgrade over an already solid Delgado. Schrapps and Lancaster seem to the speed to provide a deep threat to go along with Smith, Pleasant, and Sampson on the other side, and things are actually getting crowded at the slot. Schrapps and Lancaster going down early left a big question mark about what we actually have, but the depth seems to have irmproved so there should be some good battles come spring. And we still don't know for sure what this year's signing class will look like.

I would say the fact that a non-scholarship player made it on the field before Sampson does not bode well for Sampson's chances at playing next year, or, quite frankly, ever, at UNT.

Edited November 8, 2012 by UNT90

UNT90 · November 8, 2012

Good article and I'm proud of Smith beating the odds. However, this article really gives you an idea of how DOWN the talent level depth is at UNT right now. Dodge left this program in a mess and it will takes years to build it up.

Like others have said, that is partially Mac's fault. If there are problems at the position next year, that is completely Macs fault through either recruit evaluation/development breakdown or just a failure to convince athletes to come to UNT.

CurveItAround · November 9, 2012

Like I said, a lot hinges on Terrell stepping up on one side so that we only have to find one from Schrapps, Lancaster, Smith, Pleasant, Sampson, plus recruits to play opposite Terrell. I think we are reasonably deep at the slot.

If we are not going to have burners on the outside, I like the idea of them at least being big and being able to be physical with the DB's. Of course big AND fast is preferable.

Edited November 9, 2012 by CurveItAround

greenminer · November 9, 2012

If I had to put my finger on the one tangible that would make a difference in our playmakers, it is our lack of speed.

This is not a development issue.

UNT90 · November 9, 2012

I really confused as to why some folks think it is Mac's fault that we should be counting on one of his recruits this year to be our playmaking savior. All of his recruits are freshmen or sophmores.

It isn't Mac's fault that we are lacking upper classmen to go out of make plays.

Of his recruits, Jimmerson is a leading playmaker and Carlos Harris is helping to fill the Chancellor gap.

We need more playmakers for sure. I hope of Hines, Schrapps, and Lancaster, at least one steps up. And I think we can count Terrell and Pegram as Mac recruits, both of which seem to be pretty good players.

And next year they will be sophmores and juniors.

Again, next year is the time for accountablitiy, not this year, but it is concerning that we are talking about counting on guys that have never played one down of college football to solve the WR position.

GrayEagle · November 9, 2012

I still worry about a deep threat for next year. Chancellor and Harris have very good speed but they are in the slot. I see Terrell as an improved Delgado and Smith, Teegarden, Schrapps and Lancaster all capable of big gainers. Hines had a very good high school career but will it transfer to the college game? I don't know whether Chelf can contribute or not. I'll be surprised if any other receiver can step to the front. Nevertheless, next year should be an improved position over this year.

BillySee58 · November 9, 2012

What people need to realize is that we are UNT, and in recruiting that doesn't amount a whole lot to high school players. True deep threats, players that have legitimate height, speed, and production are almost never allowed to slip through the cracks by the UTs and OUs and such.

This is why we are stuck getting players from small schools, players that didn't produce much in high school but have the measurables, players that did produce but are too small/too slow, etc. This isn't a bad thing, but it does mean that we are going to have to develop our players. We just aren't going to get 6'4" 205 lb receivers that run a 4.4 and caught 20 touchdowns for the team that won the Texas 5A division 1 state championship.

Hopefully we can have a good recruiting season, a good spring, and get our receivers healthy and on the same page as whoever our QB is (Berglund cough cough). A really good QB can make do with what he has at receiver, not to mention we will return a stacked o-line and some solid backs to ease the pressure on our passing game. Unfortunately that hasn't been enough this year, but we'll see in due time if we have the makings of being a competitive D1 team.