Billy Ray Smith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Billy Ray Smith | |
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| Position(s): Linebacker |
Jersey #(s): 54 |
| Born: August 10, 1961 Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1983–1992 | |
| NFL Draft: 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | |
| College: University of Arkansas | |
| Professional Teams | |
| Career Stats | |
| Sacks | 26.5 |
| Interceptions | 15 |
| Games | 126 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
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| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Billy Ray Smith, Jr. (born August 10, 1961 in Fayetteville, Arkansas) is a former National Football League linebacker for the San Diego Chargers (1983-1992). Prior to that, he was a two-time consensus All-American selection for the University of Arkansas.[1]
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[edit] NFL career
Smith was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1983. He was the 5th pick in the 1st round, and was the first defensive player taken in the 1983 draft. He was the Chargers team MVP in 1987, and the team defensive player of the year in 1985 and 1986. Smith played his entire 10 year NFL career with the Chargers.[2]
Smith is a second generation NFL defender. His late father, Billy Ray Smith Sr. also played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and was a 13-year pro for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Colts. [3]
[edit] College career
At the University of Arkansas, Smith was a two-time consensus All-American selection, earning the honors in 1981 and 1982.
In 1982, he served as team captain, leading Arkansas to a 9-2-1 record and a victory over Florida in the Bluebonnet Bowl. He finished his career with 299 total tackles and still holds the Arkansas record for career tackles for loss, with 63.
He was a member of the Arkansas All-Decade Team and, in 1993, was voted into the Arkansas All-Century Team. Later, he was inducted into both the Arkansas State Hall of Fame (1995), and the Razorback Hall of Honor. Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.[4]
Smith grew up in Plano, Texas where he graduated from Plano Senior High School and was a 2005 Plano Texas Hall of Honor inductee. In 1977, Smith helped Plano Senior High School win the 5A Texas state championship.
[edit] Professional career
Smith lives in San Diego and is the co-host of the morning sports program, The Scott and B.R. Show, with Scott Kaplan on XX Sports Radio(105.7 FM/1090 AM). The station is owned by John Lynch, Sr., the father of Denver Broncos safety, John Lynch. Smith also works for Fox Sports on Saturdays during the College Football season, and is the co-host of the Chargers Power Report, on Saturday nights during the NFL season.[5]
Smith is married to San Diego news anchor Kimberly Hunt, with whom he has a daughter.
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[edit] References
- ^ Billy Ray Smith, Jr. Biography
- ^ Billy Ray Smith, Jr. NFL Statistics
- ^ Goldstein, Richard."Billy Ray Smith, 66, Lineman Who Played in 2 Super Bowls" - at New York Times. - Friday, 23-Mar-2001 - Retrieved, March 23, 2001
- ^ College Football Hall of Fame
- ^ Chargers Power Report
