De’Veon Smith Bio
De’Veon Le’trell Smith is an American professional football running back currently playing for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He rose to prominence as a tough, workhorse runner at the University of Michigan before launching a long professional career that has spanned the NFL, AAF, XFL, CFL, USFL, and UFL. Over the years, he has built a reputation for physicality between the tackles, durability, and the ability to produce in high-pressure situations.
Born in Warren, Ohio, Smith set a Trumbull County career rushing record in high school and went on to lead Michigan in rushing during three different seasons. After going undrafted in 2017, he carved out a journeyman path through multiple leagues, capturing an XFL championship in 2023 and continuing to compete at a high level in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Smith was born on November 8, 1994, in Warren, Ohio. He grew up in the same northeast Ohio community where he would later become a local football legend. From a young age, he gravitated toward running the football, and his high school years turned him into one of the most productive rushers in Trumbull County history.
He attended Howland High School in Warren, where he set the career rushing record for Trumbull County with 6,750 rushing yards. His senior performance placed him among the most decorated running backs in Ohio, and he was a finalist for Ohio’s prestigious Mr. Football award. Those honors drew attention from college recruiters across the Midwest and the Big Ten.
Path to American Football
In March 2012, prior to his senior year at Howland, Smith announced his commitment to play college football at the University of Michigan. He also received offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and West Virginia, showing the breadth of his recruitment. Choosing Michigan allowed him to compete in one of college football’s most storied programs.
As a freshman in 2013, Smith appeared in twelve games and posted twenty-six carries for 117 yards, working his way into the rotation behind more established rushers. By his sophomore season in 2014, he had earned the lead back role and was beginning to flash the downhill running style that would become his trademark at the next level.
De’Veon Smith Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Smith’s college career at Michigan unfolded across four seasons from 2013 through 2016. As a sophomore in 2014, he led the team with 519 rushing yards on 108 carries, including an opening-game performance of eight carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a sixty-one-yard run. In that same contest, he and fellow running back Derrick Green became the first Michigan duo to each rush for over 100 yards in the same game since 2007.
During the 2015 season, Smith again paced the Wolverines with 753 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 180 carries, emerging as a star in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. In 2016, through eleven games, he led Michigan once more with 750 rushing yards and ten touchdowns on 144 carries, capped by a career-high 158-yard, two-touchdown performance against Indiana on November 19 that helped the Wolverines stay on track for a strong season.
Miami Dolphins Era (2017)
Smith signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017. He was waived on September 2, 2017, and signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad the following day. On November 18, 2017, he was promoted to the active roster, only to be waived two days later and re-signed to the practice squad, before being promoted back to the active roster on November 29, 2017.
Washington Redskins and Orlando Apollos Era (2018–2019)
Smith signed with the Washington Redskins on August 20, 2018, but was waived for final roster cuts on September 1, 2018. On August 17, 2018, he had also signed with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football, joining the startup league for its 2019 season. The AAF ceased operations in April 2019, cutting his tenure short but adding another professional stop to his resume.
Tampa Bay Vipers and The Spring League Era (2020)
Smith was selected in the third round of the 2020 XFL draft by the Tampa Bay Vipers, where he became a featured back. He finished the abbreviated 2020 XFL season as the league’s rushing yards leader. His contract was terminated on April 10, 2020, when the XFL suspended operations. On October 17, 2020, he signed with the Aviators of The Spring League to continue playing.
BC Lions and Pittsburgh Maulers Era (2021–2022)
Smith signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League on December 15, 2020, but was released on March 19, 2021. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 2022 USFL draft, though he was cut from the team before the season. The decision drew heavy criticism on social media.
Dallas Renegades Era (2023–Present)
The Arlington Renegades selected Smith in the eighth round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023. He became a key contributor for the franchise, helping the Renegades capture the 2023 XFL championship and sharing the XFL rushing touchdowns lead that same year. He re-signed with the team on January 29, 2024, and has continued to play for the organization as it transitioned into the Dallas Renegades of the UFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Smith’s signature accomplishments are his 2023 XFL championship with the Arlington Renegades and his 2020 XFL rushing yards title with the Tampa Bay Vipers. His 158-yard, two-touchdown effort against Indiana in 2016 stands as one of the defining college performances of his career, while his Trumbull County career rushing record remains a lasting high school milestone.
De’Veon Smith Career Wins
Smith’s most significant team triumph came in 2023, when he helped the Arlington Renegades win the XFL championship. That title capped a professional journey that had taken him through the NFL, AAF, XFL, CFL, and USFL, and validated his persistence across multiple football leagues.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his championship, Smith earned the XFL rushing yards leader title in 2020 and shared the XFL rushing touchdowns lead in 2023. He also led Michigan in rushing during the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons, finishing his college career as one of the program’s most productive rushers of his era.
De’Veon Smith Family
Personal Life
De’Veon Smith was born and raised in Warren, Ohio, and has continued to represent his hometown throughout his professional career. Public details about his immediate family, marital status, and children are not widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Smith remains with the Dallas Renegades of the UFL following his January 2024 re-signing. He brings a veteran presence to a backfield that values physicality and pass protection, two areas where he has built his professional reputation. His championship experience from the 2023 XFL season provides the Renegades with a leader in the locker room during the UFL’s spring schedule.
At age 30, Smith continues to compete for meaningful carries and a featured role in the Renegades offense. His track record of leading multiple teams in rushing suggests he can still influence the ground game when given the opportunity. With the UFL continuing to grow in visibility, a productive 2025 campaign would further extend one of the more unique journeyman careers in modern professional football.