Football Southern Conference

Appalachian State's Wayne Smith First Pick In CFL draft

BOONE, N.C. - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made offensive lineman Wayne Smith the first overall selection in the 2004 Canadian Football League's (CFL) Canadian Draft. The Tiger-Cats' first-year head coach Greg Marshall announced the pick through the CFL headquarters in Toronto.

The 6-2, 304-pound Smith was coveted by the Ticats and should step into their lineup immediately. Born in Canada, but raised in Pembroke Pines, Fla., Smith is two years removed from his college days at Appalachian.

An invite to the Washington Redskins' training camp in 2002, Smith earned third team All-American honors and consensus All-SoCon acclaim after the 2001 campaign. He started 23 games during his career (1997-2001) for the Mountaineers, including all 14 games for the 2000 season squad that finished 10-4 after advancing to the I-AA national semi-finals.

Smith's draft year was 2002 but he qualified late for the CFL draft because the league didn't become aware of his Canadian roots until after last year's event.


Hamilton, which owns 15 Grey Cups, finished the 2003 campaign at 1-17. Hamilton owns six picks, including the first selection in five of six rounds.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) operates in nine leading cities across Canada. Connecting the strength and heritage of the past with the momentum of today and the promise of the future, the CFL celebrates Canada's game with fans across the nation. The 92nd Grey Cup will be played in Ottawa, Ontario on November 21, 2004.