HOLLAND, Mich. — There is a little more than a week away from the NFL Draft in Detroit, and it is expected to see two West Michigan products hear their names called during the draft - Western Michigan star Marshawn Kneeland out of Godwin Heights High School and Michigan offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart from Paw Paw High School.
On Wednesday, 13 ON YOUR SIDE learned there will be another West Michigan connection in Detroit.
Hope College two-sport athlete Derik Smith has been selected to announce a Denver Broncos Day 3 pick on Saturday April 27.
The junior Dutchmen runs track and plays football at Hope.
Smith was given the school's Karen Page Courage Award as he participates in his two sports with a prosthetic leg.
The Edwardsburg High School alum had to have part of his right leg amputated when he was just nine years old after a bone cancer diagnosis. He decided to have his leg amputated at a young age so he could have the opportunity to play football again. Smith's goal since high school was to play college football. Hope gave him that chance.
He appeared in two games for the Dutch last season and made one tackle during Hope's 8-2 2023 campaign.
The fourth through seven rounds will be on ABC starting at noon on Saturday.
The first round of the draft will be on ABC starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Day 2 of the NFL Draft will be televised on ABC. The second and third rounds of the draft will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday in Detroit.
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