NDHSAA Member School Alumni: Ryan Smith, multi-sport standout at Wahpeton HS

Editor's Note: NDHSAA Media Specialist Tom Mix will periodically feature former student athletes and participants of NDHSAA-sponsored sports and activities on the NDHSAA NOW website (www.ndhsaanow.com).

This week's NDHSAA Member School Alumni Spotlight shines on Ryan Smith, a 2010 graduate of Wahpeton High School. Smith was a three-sport star for the Huskies and went onto have a steller collegiate football career at North Dakota State. He would later play professional football in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

RYAN SMITH - PREP ATHLETIC STANDOUT AT WAHPETON HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATION YEAR: 2010

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC CAREER

FOOTBALL:

• Rushed for 2,781 yards his senior season helping Wahpeton to an appearance in the NDHSAA Division AA Football State Semifinals.

• Earned North Dakota High School Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Division AA Football First Team All-State honors at running back. 

• Rushed for 2,135 yards his junior season helping Wahpeton to an appearance in the NDHSAA Division AAA football State Quarterfinals. 

• Earned North Dakota High School Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Division AA Football First Team All-State honors at running back. 

• Holds 10 school records in football.

BASKETBALL:

• Made 44 starts in his varsity basketball career at Wahpeton.

• Scored a total of 535 points in his varsity basketball career.

• Member of the Wahpeton Huskies boys basketball team that won 2009 Class A East Region Tournament championship 

• Member of the Wahpeton Huskies boys basketball team that made NDHSAA Class A state tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009.

TRACK AND FIELD:

• Won NDHSAA Class A boys 100-Meters individual state championship at 2009 NDHSAA State Track and Field Meet (junior season). 

• Also was an additional four-time state placer in track (4th in 100 and 200 meters in 2008, 4th in 200 meters in 2009, and 2nd in 100 meters in 2010).

• Set Eastern Dakota Conference individual records in the 100 and 200 meter races. 

OTHER HIGH SCHOOL HONORS

• Rushed nine times for 40 yards and caught five passes for 45 yards in Team North Dakota’s 41-38 win over Montana in the 2010 Badlands Bowl All-Star Game.

COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL CAREER

• Played 54 career games at wide receiver with the North Dakota State University (NDSU) football team (2010-2013). 

• Made 36 starts in his football career with the Bison.

• Member of NDSU’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) NCAA Division I Football National Championship teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013

• Member of NDSU’s Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

• Totaled 3,772 all-purpose yards in his collegiate career at NDSU.

• All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team Wide Receiver (2012, 2013).

• All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team Return Specialist (2011, 2012, 2013).

• NDSU’s career record holder for punt returns (82) and punt return yards (945).

• Finished second in career punt return touchdowns (3).

• Finished his collegiate football career with 147 catches for 1,783 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. 

• Scored a total of 14 touchdowns in his collegiate football career (eight receiving, two rushing and four return scores).

• Totaled 773 career yards in kickoff returns at NDSU along with 271 yards rushing.

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAREER

• Played professional football in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2014-2015) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2016).

• Played a total of 35 games in the CFL over three seasons.

• Finished his CFL career with 125 receptions for 1,638 yards and eight touchdowns. 

• Totaled a combined 273 yards in returning punts and kickoffs in his CFL career.

• Caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in his final game in professional football (November 13, 2016 vs. BC Lions in the CFL West Division Semifinals).

OTHER HONORS

• Smith’s No. 22 Football Jersey was retired by Wahpeton High School on October 16, 2020.