LOS ANGELES, California - Peyton Smith was selected by the Redwoods LC in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2020 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) College Draft that took place Wednesday night. The draft aired live on NBC Sports Network. 



With a total of two rounds, the seven lacrosse clubs in the PLL selected from a talented roster pool consisting of graduating college seniors. Selections were made by each head coach, who act as their respective Club's GMs. Only 14 total players were selected in the draft, placing Smith in elite company. 

The PLL debuted in 2019, and the Whipsnakes LC were crowned the inaugural champions. The PLL features seven teams, each with a 26-player roster. As opposed to tying teams to a specific market, the league tours 12 different "major market cities". The season includes 14 weeks, comprising 10 regular-season weekends, 1 all-star weekend, and 3 playoff weekends, running from June 1 through September 21.

Smith is the first Red Fox player to be drafted into the PLL. A Marist graduate has yet to play a game in the PLL. 

Earlier last week, Smith became the second Marist player to be drafted into the MLL, and also became the highest Red Fox ever drafted in the league. He joined Joseph Radin who was selected by the Charlotte Hounds in 2016. Three other Marist graduates currently play in the MLL, Brian Corrigan, Frank Brier, and Mike Begley, all for the NY Lizards. 

As it stands right now, Smith is one of the best face-off specialist in the history of the program. With the conclusion of the shortened 2020 season, he ended his career with the second best career face-off percentage of any player in Marist history at .589. Smith also ended his career with 215 ground balls, which ranks him tied-for-third in the history of the program.

During Marist's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship run In 2019, Smith finished the season with a .630 face-off percentage (11th in the entire NCAA) en route to being crowned the MAAC Face-Off Specialist of the Year. After being named MAAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year prior to this season, Smith lived up to the reputation by winning two MAAC Defensive Player of the Week Awards. In addition, he ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in ground balls and in the top-11 in face-off percentage. Smith was also a member of the MAAC All-Academic Team in 2018 and 2019, as well as a Senior CLASS Award Candidate in 2020.