Dennis Smith (tight end)

Dennis Smith
No. 35, 30[2]
PositionH-back[1]
Personal information
Born (1967-02-14) February 14, 1967
Hemet, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolHemet
CollegeUtah (1986–1989)
NFL draft1990: undrafted
Career history
Awards and highlights
  • First-team All-WAC (1988)
  • Second-team All-WAC (1989)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dennis Preston Smith (born February 14, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was an H-back for the Phoenix Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes as a tight end.

Early life

Dennis Preston Smith was born on February 14, 1967, in Hemet, California.[2] He attended Hemet High School.[2]

College career

Smith was a four-year letterman for the Utah Utes of the University of Utah from 1986 to 1989.[2] As a senior in 1989, he caught 73 passes for 1,091 yards and 18 touchdowns.[3] His 73 receptions and 18 touchdown catches both set single-season national records for a tight end.[4] Smith finished with career totals of 156 receptions for 2,168 yards and 24 touchdowns.[3] His 24 touchdown catches were tied for the most ever in the country by a tight end.[4] He also set the following school records for players of any position: career receptions (156), career touchdown receptions (24), single-season touchdown receptions (18), and single-game touchdown receptions (4).[4]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 1990 NFL draft, Smith signed with the Phoenix Cardinals on April 30, 1990.[2] He was listed as an H-back while with the Cardinals.[1] He played in four games without recording any statistics, and was released by Phoenix on October 24, 1990.[5][2]

Smith played in three games for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football in 1991 but did not record any statistics.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Herberg, Lloyd (September 4, 1990). "Hogeboom not flying with Cards". The Arizona Republic. pp. C1. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Dennis Smith". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Dennis Smith". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Rock, Brad (December 15, 1989). "DENNIS SMITH: AN `INVISIBLE' UTE SETS SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE RECORDS". Deseret News. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "Dennis Smith". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2025.