Derrell Smith ’10, G’13
Derrell Smith is a former NFL player, former advertising producer and now the creator and CEO of 99EATS, LLC - a virtual culinary brand with a mission to connect people through food, content and experiences.
What was your major/degree?
My undergrad degrees are in Information Management from the iSchool and Marketing from Whitman. My graduate degree is in Advertising, from Newhouse.
How did your experiences at SU shape your career?
As an athlete at Syracuse, I was able to make lifelong friends and forge brotherhoods with my teammates and coaches. In the classroom, I sat beside some of the smartest and capable students, who are now some of the brightest and respected minds in their industries. And, till this day we all call on each other when we need something personally or professionally, because of the bonds we made during our years at Cuse.
What was your first job after college?
My first official job was as an NFL player, first with the Bucs and then the Texans. However, my first corporate job in advertising was at a company named 360i, which at the time was run by CEO Bryan Weiner, who was a Newhouse grad.
What has been a major highlight of your career thus far?
I am currently in my fourth career, post graduation, and I am only 36! Can’t wait to see how many more careers I have by the time it is all said and done. The major highlight was actually transitioning from a successful career in advertising to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. At the time (and even still till this day) it is the scariest, yet most rewarding decision I have ever made and throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I have been supported by my SU family in so many ways, and I am eternally grateful and appreciative of our interwoven orange threads.
How have you stayed connected to SU?
In terms of athletics, I will always be connected to the locker room, no matter how young the players are in it. My blood, sweat and steam are absorbed into the walls and lockers and roots on the field. Additionally, I was an inaugural member of the Young Whitman Advisory Council for the first 6 or so years of its existence, before stepping down in 2023. And, as of recently, I have become the unofficial chef for important Orange events that happen in LA.
What is your favorite memory of Syracuse University?
Valentines Day, freshman year in 2006. The night before, there were rumblings of a snowstorm even though the ground was clear, but when we woke up, there was so much snow, Syracuse University had to cancel class! Being as though Syracuse’s weather is often compared to the North Pole, I am proud to be a part of history because there have only been a handful of times in which there was so much snow in the North Pole, that the school had to totally shut down because of it.