Sav’ell Smalls’ football journey came to a quiet and unexpected close in Boulder, Colorado.
Once one of the most celebrated edge rushers to come out of Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Smalls was lining up at tight end for Colorado under coach Deion Sanders when the Buffaloes hosted a ranked BYU team at Folsom Field. Colorado pushed the Cougars to the limit, but BYU narrowly escaped with a 24-21 victory. Unbeknownst at the time, it would be the final game of Smalls’ career.
On Tuesday evening, Smalls announced on social media that he had medically retired from football back in October. The former five star recruit had not appeared in a game since the loss to BYU and revealed that his decision stemmed from multiple episodes of transient quadriplegia, a temporary loss of movement in all four limbs caused by spinal issues. Further testing revealed spinal stenosis, putting his long term health at serious risk.
Smalls explained that after consulting with several doctors, spinal fusion surgery was the only way he could attempt to continue playing. Even then, there was no guarantee the symptoms would stop, and the risk of permanent paralysis remained high. Faced with that reality, he chose to step away from the game for good.
Smalls’ rise began early. As a freshman at Kennedy Catholic in 2016, he quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in the Seattle area. He transferred to Garfield High for his sophomore season, where he recorded 90 tackles and earned Metro League Mountain Division MVP honors, along with all league recognition on both defense and offense. His junior year only strengthened his reputation, as he won league defensive MVP despite missing time with injuries and earned first team honors at both edge rusher and tight end.
By the end of high school, Smalls was a national name. According to 247Sports composite rankings, he was the top player in Washington, the third ranked weak side defensive end in the country and a top 30 recruit nationally in the 2020 class. Returning to Kennedy Catholic for his senior season, he collected scholarship offers from 31 FBS programs, including nearly every major college football power.
After initially ruling Washington out, Smalls ultimately reversed course and committed to the Huskies in September 2019, promising to help bring a national championship back to Seattle. His decision was a major recruiting victory for coach Chris Petersen, marking a rare instance of a local five star staying home.
Smalls never played for Petersen, who retired before the end of the season. His college career at Washington spanned coaching changes and uneven team results. He played sparingly during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, saw more action in 2021 and 2022, and was part of the Huskies’ dramatic turnaround under Kalen DeBoer. Over three seasons at UW, Smalls appeared in 29 games and recorded 32 tackles.
Following the 2022 season, he transferred to Colorado to join Sanders. After redshirting in 2023, Smalls switched positions to tight end and contributed during the 2024 season, finishing with nine catches for 68 yards and a short touchdown against BYU, the only score of his collegiate career.
Entering 2025, Smalls hoped for one final season, but health issues surfaced during fall camp. Episodes of numbness in his arms and legs became more frequent, eventually leading to an MRI diagnosis that ended his playing days.
From a young age, Smalls openly embraced big dreams and never shied away from lofty goals. While his football career ended far earlier than expected, his story remains one defined by talent, resilience and the courage to prioritize life beyond the game.