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Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Number one pick signs

May 6, 2004 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats News Release


Let's hope he has the same effect on the opposition, as he does on kids.

Wayne Smith, the first pick overall in the 2004 CFL College Draft, has agreed to terms with the Tiger-Cats. Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-2, 295 pound offensive lineman, is an Appalachian State product. Born in Toronto, and raised in Illinois and Hollywood, Florida, Smith says he's stayed busy as a substitute teacher in Hollywood, as well as working at a health club.

"When I walked into the classroom, the kids got really wide-eyed and open-mouthed" Smith said. "Eventually, because kids are pretty brave, they started talking to me and things settled down."

The 24 year-old Smith spent time in the Washington Redskins camp (2002) and the Denver Broncos in 2003, after a five-year collegiate career, where he was a two-year starter and team captain as a senior. In 2001, he was a third-team all-American selection, which says a lot, considering he played for a Division 1-AA school. He admits all the talk leading up to the draft, and then being picked number one, made the last couple of weeks very hectic. "Things have calmed down a bit, but my family is still very excited."

Does that mean he's already being hounded by people asking for tickets?

"Not yet, but, I'm sure that will happen soon," he laughed.

Smith will step onto the field for the first time as a Tiger-Cat, when training camp opens May 23 at McMaster University in Hamilton.

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