The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was 48 years ago that Ed Smith broke the barrier to become the first Bahamian drafted into the National Football League.

Today, he’s just happy to be able to welcome the latest Bahamian into the highest football fraternity after he watched Grand Bahamian Mike Strachan’s selection in the 2021 National Football League Draft.

For Strachan, it came on day three of the draft when the former University of Charleston wide receiver was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the first pick of the seventh round (229th overall).

The 23-year-old Strachan now joins a list of Bahamians to be selected by NFL teams in the past.

“It’s always exciting to see guys reach this pinnacle. It’s not the pinnacle of his career yet because anytime you reach the professional ranks of football, it’s an exciting time,” Smith said. “Anytime you play professional football and you reach the NLF, it’s a dream come true.”

Smith, now residing in Denver, was selected in the 13th round with the No.319th pick in 1973 by the Broncos as the first Bahamian to crack the NFL.

There’s been some dispute over whether they were listed as Bahamian born players, who went on to be selected in their respective drafts.

Among them were Dexter Nottage, who was selected in the sixth round of the 1994 draft with the 163rd pick by the Washington Redskins and Jocelyn Borgella, selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round with the 183rd pick in 1994.

Devard Darling (twin brother to deceased Devaughn Darling), nephew of Olympic triple jump bronze medallist Frank Rutherford, followed in 2004 when he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round with the 82nd pick.

Along the way, there were a number of players attached to the Bahamas, who have played in the NFL, including Smith’s son, Alex, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round in 2005.

And Rashad Fenton, drafted with the sixth pick in round six by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 when they won the NFL title. Rhodes scholar Myron Rolle was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, but he opted to attend Oxford University where he earned an MSc in medical anthropology and is now making his contribution as a doctor, both in the Bahamas and the United States.

The Bahamas can also boast of having two Bahamians in NFL training camps in 1973 as Allen Ingraham and Godwin Blyden were both invited to try out for the Washington Redskins, but fell short of the final opening roster.

Strachan, according to Smith, is a welcome addition to the Bahamian legacy of professional athletes making it at the highest level of their discipline. “His workload has just really begun,” Smith said.

“He’s not the only receiver in camp, but he has proven that he deserves to be there by being drafted. He now has to put in the work to be in the starting line-up on opening day.

“But it’s wonderful that we can continue the list of Bahamian athletes who are excelling in football, just as they are doing in baseball with Jazz Chisholm, Buddy Hield, DeAndre Ayton and Jonquel Jones in basketball and Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner in track and field.”

Smith said this all bodes well because the scouts are always looking for the next talent to come out of the Bahamas in all sports because of the talent that athletes have displayed in the past and are showcasing now.

Strachan stands at 6-feet, 5-inches and 228 pounds with an 85” wingspan and 10” hands.

He ran a 4.46 second 40-yard dash, put up 20 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds, posted a 35” vertical leap, 10’7” broad jump, 4.20 secs in the short shuttle and 6.96 secs in the 3-cone drill.

Strachan, who previously ran the 200 and 400m in track before he switched to playing football, signed with DEC Management in November and also recently joined The Society brand and marketing agency.