The Flash La Courneuve of France’s FFFA Elite has signed ex Green Bay Packer pass catcher Ryan Smith.
The former German Football League and NCAA Div. I standout is excited to be heading to Paris:
“I came here because of the offensive coordinator, Paul Durand. I’ve had many conversations with him about the style of offense and the overall goals for this season and they align with my own. I’m also very impressed with the level of football this club plays at. One main thing I look for when choosing a team is how competitive they are. I want to become a better football player and continue to do grow as a player. The level of football IQ, energy on the field, and overall desire to be the best has been clear from the start.”
The 6’4″, 260- pound tight end spent last season playing in the GFL with the Ravensburg Razorbacks. Smith became the leading receiver for the Razorbacks catching 43 passes for 785 yards and four touchdowns. His performance made him the league’s top receiving tight end statistically. His average of 98 receiving yards a game ranked him fifth in the league.
Smith, originally from River Forest, Illinois, played three seasons of high school football and rugby before accepting a football scholarship with the Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks. He finished his career at Miami University with 93 catches for 1,149 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was placed on the prestigious John Mackey Award watch list in 2017 which highlights the play of tight ends throughout the college season.
#Packers rookie mini camp starts today…
Interesting attendee.. Miami (OH) TE Ryan Smith – 6037 257lbs (4.89 40)… Soft hands and good body control. Can make grabs in traffic/red zone… pic.twitter.com/VzLY8b22zy
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 4, 2018
Following his time with the Redhawks Smith spent the 2018 pre-season with the Green Bay Packers where he doubled as a fullback and tight end. After his release from the Packers, Smith played professional rugby for the Washington DC Old Glory before finding his way to Europe.
Smith joins former division one quarterback Conor Miller as the Paris-based club looks to open its season up on February 12th with a matchup against the defending champion Thonon Black Panthers. It will be the first game played in France’s top league since early 2020.
Watch Ryan Smith’s one handed grab here:
