From high school superstar to SEMO reserve, it’s Darrell Smith’s time to shine

SEMO running back Darrell Smith bounces his run to the outside against Northwestern State on Saturday, Sept. 28. Smith rushed for a career-high 145 yards on 31 carries as the Redhawks blanked the Demons 19-0.

Kaiden Karper ~ kkarper@semoball.com

The path of transitioning from a successful high school football player to achieving at a high level in college can take many directions.

For some, the process takes years, often involving transfers between schools and between NCAA divisions. Constantly waiting for an opportunity to showcase one’s talent can be a frustrating process — one that requires much patience and optimism.

Others get bitten by the injury bug or face unfortunate setbacks that hinder their ability to challenge at the college level.

Then there are the Darrell Smiths of the college football world who have experienced a little bit of both.

After being recognized as one of the top high school running backs in the state of Illinois at Alton High School in 2017, the Class 7A all-state selection, who rushed for 1,660 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, surprisingly did not have any notable college offers. According to Smith, much of that was attributed to poor academics, which prompted him to take the junior college route.

“I didn't have anything because I had a bad GPA,” Smith said. “I had to end up going JUCO and then I just did a couple years there, got my degree there. My high school coach knew Coach Tuke and he gave me an opportunity, and I had to come here and earn my scholarship. The rest is history.”

Before SEMO, Smith spent two seasons at College of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and picked up right where he left off on the gridiron. Along with taking his education more seriously, Smith was named the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Player of the Year and a first-team NJCAA All-American selection.

Then SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz reached out and welcomed the star running back into his program.

In 2022, Smith slowly worked his way to the playing field and racked up 187 rushing yards, which was good for the fourth most on the team. Last season, the Alton product carried on his role as a backup before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury midway through the year.

“I was in the game and I caught a swing pass,” Smith said. “Two people hit me and one hit me behind my shoulder, and my shoulder popped out. I was trying to stay in the game, but Coach said it might be bad or whatever. I got up and it popped back in, but I knew it was messed up so I figured I was done. Just thought I could come back next year.”

When the 2024 season kicked off, it was star true freshman Payton Brown who stole the show and emerged as the starting running back following a historic debut against North Alabama, where he tied the FCS Kickoff single-game record with three rushing touchdowns.

Smith, who was patiently waiting in the shadows of Brown and fellow junior college transfer Brandon Epton Jr., was the outlier. He did not even have a single touch through the first four games of the season.

But in the week leading up to its matchup with Northwestern State, the SEMO coaching staff had a decision to make concerning the backfield. Brown was nursing an ankle injury, while Epton Jr. had recently suffered an off-the-field injury.

Then there was Smith.

“I just focused all week,” he said. “I knew I was the second running back right now because Brandon got hurt. So, I just had to make sure I stepped up and did my job. When my time came, I just took advantage of my opportunity and I am planning on trying to keep doing the same thing.”

Smith, filling in for a banged up and limited Brown, led SEMO to a 19-0 shutout win this past Saturday by piling up 170 yards of offense, with 145 rushing yards and another 25 receiving — all career-highs as a Redhawk.

It was a full circle moment for the veteran rusher, whose breakout performance against the Demons also came on his 25th birthday.

“He’s a great kid that had to accept the role that he didn’t like behind some of those other guys,” said Matukewicz in the postgame press conference on Saturday. “He was patient and waited for his turn and did a great job today.”

Even though football has always been a huge part of his life, Smith said that he is trying to create as much value for his future beyond the sport as possible. Currently a sports management major, Smith said that he is on track to graduate in the spring and wants to get into coaching following his time at SEMO. If all else fails, he said that he is also interested in welding — an occupation that was introduced to him through his friend's father.

“My career has had its ups and downs really,” Smith said. “My GPA part, I was bad in high school. I didn't even care about school or anything. From then on I was telling myself, ‘I need to focus on my grades more because football is not always going to be there.’ So, just looking after football and making sure I keep my grades right because school is what’s going to get me paid.”

While it’s only been a single performance, it looks like the start of more beautiful success for Smith.

As SEMO’s season kicks into high gear with a road test at Eastern Illinois this Saturday, Oct. 5, the grad student said that regardless of how much more playing time he gets this year, the main priority is seeing the program run the table.

“Really, I just want to win,” Smith said. “I don't care about how many carries I get if we win. That's all that matters to me. I don't care if I get five or 30… it doesn't matter. I just want to win in my last year. That's more important to me.”