Fred Smalls

Sacks:	2.5
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Fred Smalls
No. 53
Position:	Fullback / Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	January 17, 1963 (age 61); Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Beaufort (SC) Battery Creek
College:	West Virginia
NFL draft:	1986 / round: 7 / pick: 182
Career history
	San Diego Chargers (1986); Ottawa Rough Riders (1987); Philadelphia Eagles (1987); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988); Pittsburgh Gladiators (1990); Washington Commandos (1990); Albany Firebirds (1991); Cologne Crocodiles (1992-1994);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	All-American (1984); First-team All-East (1985);
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:
Sacks:	2.5
	Stats at Pro Football Reference
Career Arena League statistics
Total tackles:
Total tackles:	27
Sacks:	2
Receptions / Yards:	3 / 25
Rushes / Yards:	12 / 44
Touchdowns:	1
	Stats at ArenaFan.com

Frederick R. Smalls (born January 7, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and German Football League (GFL).

Smalls was born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina and played scholastically at Battery Creek High School.^[1]

College career

Smalls enrolled at West Virginia University in 1982. In his freshman season, he recorded six tackles, a fumble recovery. In, 1983 as a sophomore, he recorded 13 tackles and a pass break-up as a backup.

In 1984, as a junior, Smalls earned the starting position. That season, he recorded 87 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two sacks. He was named to the NEA All-America team.^[2] As a senior, in 1985, Smalls totaled 97 tackles, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and three sacks. He was also named to the AP All-East team.^[3]^[4]

Professional career

National Football League

Smalls was selected in the seventh round, 182nd overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL draft.^[5]^[6] However, he was cut in August 1986.^[7]

In 1987, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).^[8] Also in 1987, he played three games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987. In 1988, he spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during training camp before retiring in July.^[9]^[10]

Arena Football League

In 1990, Smalls joined the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL). He only spent a short part of 1990 with the Gladiators, recording five tackles. He then moved to the Washington Commandos, where he played fullback along with linebacker. He finished the season with 18 tackles and a sack on defense with the Commandos and three receptions for 25 yards and 12 rushes for 44 yards and a touchdown on offense. In 1991, Smalls joined the Albany Firebirds. That season, he recorded four tackles and a sack.

German Football League

Smalls then played for the Cologne Crocodiles in the German Football League until 1994.

References

^ "Fred Smalls Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
^ Olderman, Murray (November 20, 1984). "USC's Seawright named to NEA All-America team". The Index-Journal. NEA. p. 11. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Top-ranked Nittany Lions dominate AP's All-East team". The Index-Journal. AP. December 17, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "All-East team". The Salina Journal. AP. December 17, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
^ "Football: NFL Draft". The Salina Journal. April 30, 1986. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Monday's Sports Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. August 19, 1986. p. 34. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. June 27, 1988. p. 33. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Transactions". Galveston Daily News. July 14, 1988. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Transactions". The Salina Journal. July 14, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[PFR1-1] "Fred Smalls Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2024.

[2] Olderman, Murray (November 20, 1984). "USC's Seawright named to NEA All-America team". The Index-Journal. NEA. p. 11. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Top-ranked Nittany Lions dominate AP's All-East team". The Index-Journal. AP. December 17, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "All-East team". The Salina Journal. AP. December 17, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.

[6] "Football: NFL Draft". The Salina Journal. April 30, 1986. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Monday's Sports Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. August 19, 1986. p. 34. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. June 27, 1988. p. 33. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Transactions". Galveston Daily News. July 14, 1988. p. 18. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Transactions". The Salina Journal. July 14, 1988. p. 14. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

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