Nevada football commit Christopher Smalley ready to prove you can come from anywhere
MINDEN, Nev. (BVM) – Christopher Smalley had never broken a bone in his body until this summer. The Douglas County High School senior broke his hand in July and wasn’t cleared to return to the field until a Week 4 matchup at Galena.
His return was short-lived, though. In fact, it only lasted five plays.
Smalley and the Tigers forced a Galena four-and-out on defense to open the game and on Douglas’ first offensive snap, he carried the ball for a 45-yard scamper. But he was wrapped up around his ankles at the tail end of the play and came down with a broken forearm.
Just like that, Smalley’s senior campaign was a memory. He underwent season-ending surgery, but Smalley has kept the proper perspective.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Smalley said. “For some reason, I wasn’t supposed to play my senior year.”
Part of the reason Smalley has kept a level head through a situation that might be earth-shattering for others is the fact that he has a future in the Division I ranks.
The three-star athlete and 15th-ranked player in Nevada’s 2022 class is a two-time All-Sierra League first team selection. Smalley racked up 85 tackles, 13 for a loss and 5.5 sacks in 10 games as a sophomore. He came out as a junior during an abbreviated season and notched 27 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery in five games while adding 255 rushing yards and five touchdowns on offense.
Douglas 26, Galena 0 | 5:50 4Q.
This three-headed backfield from Douglas could be real scary this year. Chris Smalley punches is his second touchdown of the night from five yards out. PAT wide right. pic.twitter.com/aaOmCF8Dzv
— Carter Eckl (@CarterEckl) March 6, 2021
Smalley’s versatility and athleticism has been used on both sides of the field at Douglas, and it’s something he’s been more than willing to do.
“I feel like what I bring most to the football field is energy,” Smalley said. “I can kind of play wherever the coaches need me to. I’ll just play wherever the coaches need me to or want me to or wherever would help the team.”
Linebacker is Smalley’s position of choice, though, and it was also the position his late father played as a standout at UCLA in the 1990s. Rod Smalley passed away on January 1 after a stint in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and spending time at Douglas as defensive coordinator.
Christopher was 6-foot-1 and 140 pounds as a freshman, and it was his father who helped jumpstart his bodily transformation.
“I got moved up to varsity and I was tiny, super skinny and he (Rod) goes ‘OK dude, we have to start working out’,” Christopher said. “So we started working out and I put on some weight. I would say that almost all of my camp success that I’ve had is because me and my dad would go out two to three times a week and just train for those camps for me to look good. He’s helped so much with everything.”
Now standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing about 200 pounds before his recent surgery, Christopher’s services have been wanted by a handful of schools. Air Force, Army and Fresno State were among the schools who offered Christopher, but a visit to in-state Nevada crystalized his future plans.
After a great official visit and talk with @CoachJayNorvell I am excited and extremely blessed to say I am staying home and Committing to the University Of Nevada Reno!!! @Vai_Taua pic.twitter.com/j8AliG2MlE
— Christopher Smalley (@ChrisSmalleyOLB) June 28, 2021
Nevada offered the Douglas star in May of 2020 and Christopher committed to the Wolf Pack on June 28.
“I went to UNR and, within the first hour, I knew,” Christopher said. “I loved everything they showed me, I just loved the atmosphere and how close to home it was so my family members could come watch my games. After the first day, I said I can’t see myself going anywhere else.”
Christopher said he’ll play somewhere on the defensive side of the ball in Reno, either at defensive end or outside linebacker, and hope to prove an underrecruited place like Douglas can still produce some serious talent.
“As soon as I broke my forearm and realized I wasn’t going to play anymore for my high school, I kind of started focusing on UNR and what I’m going to do up there,” Christopher said. “I just want to help the team out as much as I can and prove that you can come from anywhere and be successful.”
