Introduction
Derrick Owens Lassic (born January 26, 1970) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football for the University of Alabama. He is most remembered for being the starting running back for the Cowboys for the first two games (both losses) of the 1993 season while Emmitt Smith held out in a contract dispute.
Early years
Lassic attended North Rockland High School, where as a senior he set county records with 1,719 rushing yards, 31 touchdowns and 194 scored points. He helped his team to three straight Section 1 Class A bowl wins and as a senior was named the New York State large-school Player of the Year and an USA Today’s High School All-American.
He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Alabama, where he started to receive playing time during his junior year, when he was one of two primary running backs. He became a starter the following year, registering 905 rushing yards on 178 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. That year, he was named the 1993 Sugar Bowl MVP after Alabama beat Miami 34-13 to win the National Championship.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Lassic was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. The team was forced to start him in the first two games (both losses) after Emmitt Smith contract holdout extended into the regular season. In ten games (three starts) in 1993, he rushed 75 times for 269 yards and three scores, but he suffered from the loyalty his teammates had towards Smith. Erik Williams criticized Lassic's running style, saying "He runs too fast. We have a flow and he isn't able to see it." Nate Newton said, "Lassic was a nice kid, but if we expected to get back to the Super Bowl, we needed Emmitt in the lineup."
The next season he was limited from a torn ligament he suffered in his right knee during a pre-season game, until being placed on the injured reserve list on December 6, 1994.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers selected him from the Cowboys roster in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft. The team reached an injury settlement with him on August 28, after suffering from knee, hamstring and thigh problems in training camp.
San Francisco 49ers
Lassic signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 and was waived on July 30.
Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
In 1998, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and was waived on August 18.