Spent 3 years at Alabama before transferring out to Arizona for senior season.
Played all around the defensive line before settling down at DE.
All-Pac10 selection in 1989, had 71 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 5 sacks as a Senior.
11th overall selection in the 1990 draft by the then Los Angeles Raiders.
Missed entire rookie season with knee injury during preseason.
Burst onto the scene in 1991 racking up 10.5 sacks- to rank second on the team.
Had an even more impressive 1992, with 13 sacks, 31 combined tackles and 6 forced fumbles as situational starter.
In 1993, had 12.5 sacks, 52 combined tackles, and 1 forced fumble.
Scored a 25 yard TD off a fumble recovery against the Dolphins in 1994.
Played 7 seasons with the Raiders from 1990 to 1997, spending final offseason with the Broncos in 1998.
NOTES:
Who knows what really happened to Anthony Smith?
“I’m a member of BMAP- the Black Male Achievement Program. I go to different schools to tell young people that if drugs are what they want to do, that if they want to destroy their lives, go on and do it. But stay away from the people that don’t want to do it.
Go ahead, kill yourself, but don’t kill other people. Don’t try to urge other people to accept what you bow to. I try to convince kids that there are a lot of things you can do to be productive with your life”
– Anthony Smith 1992 Pro Line Portraits #370
In 2016, Anthony was convicted of 3 counts of murder, with special circumstances of torture, kidnapping and multiple murders, for the 1999 torture killing of two brothers and the 2001 slaying of another man. He was sentenced to 3 consecutive life sentences- without parole.
Ended up becoming a part of a devastating 2 headed runningback rotation with Elroy Harris.
Displayed exceptional vision and skill catching passes out of the backfield, leading the team with 40 receptions.
Caught league’s first fake punt play TD, a 65 yarder from punter Kirk Maggio against the New York/ New Jersey Knights.
NOTES:
Son, Kenny Bell played for the Salt Lake City Stallions of the AAF. I packed my WLAF card of Ken just in case I ran into him, but no such luck! The reason being was at one point Ken was living a city over near a day camp I used to go to. I tried in vain to get his autograph on 3 previous occasions, but thanks to one of my fellow collectors, Rick, I got an updated address early in the year and took a stab. With Ken’s autograph, I’ve closed out the Pro Set World League Birmingham Fire team set’s autographs.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
