Darrin Smith Named to 2014 ACC Legends Class

GREENSBORO, N.C. — University of Miami linebacker Darrin Smith was among those named to the 2014 Class of Legends for its 10^th Annual Dr Pepper Football Championship Game, which will be played in Charlotte, N.C. on December 6.

Smith, one of the top linebackers in program history, keyed a Hurricane defense that allowed Miami to win a pair of national championships (1989, 1991) under coach Dennis Erickson during his time in Coral Gables. Along with Jessie Armstead and Micheal Barrow, he composed one third of the linebacker corps for Miami known as the “Bermuda Triangle”.

As a junior he earned first-team All-America honors by the Football News and second-team by the Associated Press while also named co-Defensive Player of the Year in the BIG EAST. He finished his career as the fourth-leading tackler in UM history. He was named a first-team All-American by UPI as a senior in 1992. During his four varsity seasons, Miami compiled a spectacular 44-4 record. An excellent student, Smith also became UM’s first National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete recipient. 

A second-round pick and the 54^th overall selection by Dallas in the 1993 NFL Draft, he played 12 seasons in the NFL, the first four with the Cowboys (1993-96) where he helped Dallas to triumphs in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX.  He also played one year with Philadelphia (1997), two seasons with Seattle (1998-99) and five years with New Orleans. In his NFL career, he compiled 749 tackles, 24.0 sacks and 11 interceptions. A native of Miami, he currently resides in Pembroke Pines where he owns and operates a real estate investment and development company. He also serves as the team chaplain for the Miami Dolphins.

The Legends are each selected by their respective schools and will be honored during this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game weekend. They will be honored at the ACC Night of Legends sponsored by the Belk Bowl on Friday, Dec. 5, and on Saturday Dec. 6, during ceremonies at Bank of America Stadium for the 10^th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, which will be nationally televised with either a 7:45 pm (ESPN) or 8 p.m. (ABC) kickoff.

The group of 14 former gridiron standouts from current ACC schools includes a former ACC Football Player of the Year; an ACC Defensive Player of the Year, 12 former All-Americas, including 10 first-team and six consensus All-American honorees and 12 players who combined for 118 years in the National Football League. Twelve of the Legends were drafted into the NFL, including nine first- or-second-round draft choices.

Smith joins Chris Snee (Boston College), Donnell Woolford (Clemson), Chris Castor (Duke), Derrick Brooks (Florida State), John Davis (Georgia Tech), Frank Minnifield (Louisville), Greg Ellis (North Carolina), Jesse Campbell (NC State), Hugh Green (Pittsburgh), Art Monk (Syracuse), George Welsh (Virginia), Jake Grove (Virginia Tech) and Alan White (Wake Forest).