Hope College junior Derik Smith made the most of his NFL Draft experience in Detroit.

The two-sport student-athlete stood centerstage this weekend for an unforgettable 2024 NFL Draft that drew a record 700,000-plus fans to the Motor City.

On Saturday, Smith (Niles, Michigan / Edwardsburg HS) announced the Denver Broncos' 2024 fifth-round selection of University of Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (145th overall) on the NFL Draft stage in Hart Plaza.

Watch Derik Smith announce the Broncos' draft pick.

Smith, who plays football and competes in track and field for the Flying Dutchmen, was a special guest of the NFL and the American Cancer Society. The health and physical education major was a guest of the organizations' Crucial Catch program.

The Broncos shared Smith's announcement on their social media accounts.

Smith's story has drawn nationwide attention, including as part of the TV special "Courage in Sports: Gridiron Greatness" presented by the USAA insurance company on CBS last fall.

In 2023, Smith was named the recipient of the Hope Athletics Karen Page Courage Award.

As a child, Smith had part of his right leg amputated after a cancer diagnosis.

Last fall, Smith appeared in two games and made one tackle as a defensive lineman for the Flying Dutchmen football team, which finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record.
 
Smith also represented Team USA at the 2022 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Games in Santo Antonio, Portugal. Smith won his division in the discus, long jump and 100-meter run.