Laverne Smith facts for kids

Laverne Smith was born on September 12, 1954. He is a former American football player. He played as a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL).

Laverne Smith was chosen by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL draft. Before playing professionally, he played college football at the University of Kansas. He also went to Wichita Southeast High School in Wichita, Kansas.

Growing Up and High School Sports

Laverne Smith grew up in Wichita, Kansas. He was a talented athlete from a young age.

Football Star in High School

Smith played high school football for the Wichita Southeast High School Golden Buffaloes. He was so good that he earned "first-team All-City" honors in both 1971 and 1972. This means he was considered one of the best players in the entire city.

Track and Field Achievements

Besides football, Smith was also a star in track and field. He ran for the Golden Buffaloes and won the state championship in the 100-yard dash in 1971. This shows he was very fast! In 2012, he was honored for his amazing sports career. He was inducted into the Southeast High School Sports Hall of Fame.

College Football Career

Laverne Smith continued his impressive sports journey at the University of Kansas. He played for the Kansas Jayhawks from 1973 to 1976. He was a starting player for three of those years.

Setting Records at Kansas

Smith was a standout player for the Jayhawks. In 1974, he was recognized as an All-Big Eight player. This meant he was one of the top players in his college conference. He set new school records for rushing yards. He gained 3,192 yards throughout his college career. In 1974 alone, he rushed for 1,181 yards, which was also a school record for a single season.

Rushing and Receiving Stats

During his time at Kansas, Smith scored 23 rushing touchdowns. He carried the ball 488 times. On average, he gained 6.5 yards every time he ran with the ball. He also caught 21 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

College Track Success

Just like in high school, Smith also competed in track while in college. In 1976, he won the Big Eight championship in the 100 meters. He also won the 440-yard relay. His fastest times were 10.29 seconds for the 100 meters and 20.44 seconds for the 200-meter dash.

Professional Football Career

After his successful college career, Laverne Smith was ready for the NFL.

Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Laverne Smith in the 1977 NFL Draft. He was the 99th player picked overall. He played in seven games for the Steelers during the 1977 season. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken leg that year. He stayed on the Steelers' roster for a few more years after his injury.

Life After Football

After his football career, Laverne Smith worked at Boeing in Wichita.