Jerry LeVias facts for kids

Jerry LeVias (born September 5, 1946) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Jerry played college football for the SMU Mustangs. He also played professionally for the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers.

Jerry LeVias was a very important player. He was the first African American student to receive an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference. He was also the second African American football player in that conference.

Early Life and High School

Jerry LeVias was born in Beaumont, Texas. He played quarterback for Hebert High School, a school for Black students in Beaumont. Jerry was listed as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 177 pounds. However, he was actually a bit smaller. He made up for his size with incredible speed.

College Football Journey

Joining SMU and Breaking Barriers

In the spring of 1965, Coach Hayden Fry recruited Jerry to Southern Methodist University (SMU). Jerry had over a hundred scholarship offers. But he didn't get any from the historically Black colleges he expected to play for. Those schools thought he was too small for football.

Coach Fry saw that Jerry had strong character and great skill. He also knew Jerry was good at academics. Fry believed Jerry could help integrate the Southwest Conference. This meant Jerry would be one of the first Black players in the league.

Facing Challenges and Finding Success

Jerry's journey was not easy. He had to first earn the trust of his freshman teammates. This was one of his biggest challenges as a pioneer for civil rights. Despite difficulties, Jerry succeeded both on and off the field.

His success led to an exciting debut on the varsity team in 1966. He quickly became one of the most thrilling players in the country. He helped the Mustangs win a conference championship. In his first year, Jerry led SMU to their first Cotton Bowl game in almost 20 years.

Jerry scored touchdowns against big rivals like Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, and TCU. These wins often happened in very exciting ways. Even Darrell Royal, the head coach at Texas, noticed Jerry's talent. He had once thought Jerry was too small. But after seeing him play, Royal said Jerry looked "plenty big."

Jerry wore the number 23. He chose this number because of Psalm 23 from the Bible. His grandmother wanted him to wear it.

Overcoming Difficulties at SMU

Jerry faced many challenges during his time at SMU. He told the Houston Chronicle that his years at SMU were very difficult. He faced unfair treatment from opposing players and sometimes even from his own teammates. He said he would read the Serenity Prayer every morning.

At that time, Jerry was one of the few Black students at SMU. The city of Dallas was also still working towards full integration. Coach Fry supported Jerry completely. But Jerry was still a target for some people. He once heard an alumnus say they would stop supporting the university if Fry kept playing Jerry.

College Achievements and Legacy

Jerry LeVias was named All-SWC three times, from 1966 to 1968. He was also an All-America player in his senior year. He led the league in receiving yards twice. When his three varsity seasons ended, he held every career record. This included the record for most receiving yards in a single game (213 yards on 8 catches against North Carolina State in 1968).

Jerry finished his college career with a touchdown catch in SMU's exciting win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1968 Bluebonnet Bowl. After that, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Senior Bowl. On top of these football achievements, Jerry was also an Academic All-American in his senior year.

In 1987, Richard Pennington wrote a book about the integration of the Southwest Conference. It started with John Westbrook at Baylor and Jerry LeVias at SMU in 1966. In 2008, HBO made a documentary called "Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football." This film showed the struggles of Coach Hayden Fry and Jerry LeVias as they integrated the Southwest Conference.

Professional Football Career

Jerry LeVias started his professional career in 1969 with the American Football League's Houston Oilers. He was chosen for the 1969 AFL All-Star Team. He then played for the Oilers in the NFL in 1970. From 1971 to 1974, he played for the San Diego Chargers.

Jerry was an instant success with the Oilers. Sports Illustrated wrote about how well he did as a rookie in 1969. That year, Jerry led the AFL with the longest pass reception (86 yards). He also led the AFL in all-purpose yards (1,946 yards) and punt return yards (292 yards).

The physical demands of professional football were tough on Jerry. He once famously said, "As the season progresses I get lighter, faster and more afraid." Jerry was good at avoiding bigger defensive players. He was also preparing for life after football. He worked for the Conoco oil company and had a share in a men's clothing store in Houston while still playing.

Life After Football

After his football career, Jerry LeVias became a businessman. In 1971, he was one of 16 professional football players given the keys to the city of Beaumont. He was honored by being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2003, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Jerry married his long-time partner, Janice, in 2009. Today, he works with the Houston Texans as a Texans Ambassador.

See also

• List of American Football League players