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Today, we are all about the number eight!
Our first number eight is the 8th pick in the 1969 NFL Draft; Larry Smith, a running back out of Florida.
In high school, Smith led the Robinson Knights to Florida's first-ever state championship football game (losing to the Coral Gables Cavaliers 16-14). His 47 touchdowns drew recognition from the University of Florida where Smith accepted an athletic scholarship to play tailback for the Gators. In his Junior season at Florida, Smith led the Gators to a 27-10 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He had 187 rushing yards and was the game's MVP. Most of his yards came on a 94-yard touchdown run where Smith struggled to keep his pants up! Smith is a first-team All-SEC player in '66, '67, & '68; a first-team All-American in 1968, and a University of Florida Hall of Fame Inductee.
Smith played from 1969 to 1973 for the Los Angeles Rams. His most productive year was his rookie season in '69: 599 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. Smith was traded to the Redskins in '74 and only accumulated 149 yards in 7 games. In six years in the NFL, Smith totaled 2,057 rushing yards, 528 carries, 11 rushing touchdowns, 149 receptions, 1,176 receiving yards, and 5 receiving touchdowns.
Our second number 8 goes to the 8th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia.
At Dunbar High in Baltimore, Maryland, Tavon played running back and led the team to three consecutive Class 1A state titles. Austin had 2,660 rushing yards on 218 carries with 34 TDs. He also returned 12 punts for 446 yards and 2 TDs. Tavon set state records for career points (790), touchdowns (123), total offensive yards (9,258) and rushing yards (7,962). Austin also ran track as a sprinter and played on the basketball team.
As a Mountaineer, Austin was converted to a wide receiver his freshman year in 2009. As a junior, Austin was named a first-team All-American by CBS. He also set an Orange Bowl record in 2012 with four touchdown receptions. He was the 2012 All-Puprose Performer of the Year. In his four years at West Virginia, Austin played in 52 games and amassed 288 receptions for 3,413 yards and 29 TDs. He also carried the ball 110 times for 1,033 yards and 6 TDs. As a return specialist, Austin returned the punts 34 times for 433 yards with 1 TD and kickoffs 97 times for 2,407 yards and 4 TDs. He has numerous accolades.
In Austin's rookie season with the Rams, Austin played 13 games with 151 rushing yards (on 9 carries), 418 receiving yards, and 678 return yards. Austin's biggest game came week 10 at the Indianapolis Colts. Against the Colts, Austin caught the ball twice for 138 yards and 2 scores, while also returning the ball 5 times for a total of 172 yards, including a 98 yard punt return touchdown.
Austin's second year saw a decline in production; however, his 391 punt return yards ranked 3rd in the NFL in 2014--behind DeAnthony Thomas and Darren Sproles. Austin was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a returner behind Devin Hester and Darren Sproles. Perhaps his biggest play that season was actually faking a punt return against the Seahawks in week 7 so teammate Stedman Bailey could return it 90 yards untouched on the opposite sideline.
Austin's third season in St. Louis was arguably his best thus far. He had career highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (473), and receiving TDs (5). Austin also ran the ball 52 times for 434 yards and 4 TDs. After the Rams' final home game in St. Louis against the Buccaneers, Austin became the first player to have 5 receiving TDs, 4 rushing TDs, and 1 punt return TD in a single season since Gale Sayers in 1965 for the Chicago Bears.
I also want to mention one of the Rams greatest centers of all-time Rich Saul was an 8th round selection in 1970. He played at Michigan State and was drafted 204th overall. Saul was selected to six Pro Bowls during his career and earned Second-team All-Pro Honors in his final two seasons.
As always, please feel free to share some memories or add someone I might have missed!
Our first number eight is the 8th pick in the 1969 NFL Draft; Larry Smith, a running back out of Florida.
In high school, Smith led the Robinson Knights to Florida's first-ever state championship football game (losing to the Coral Gables Cavaliers 16-14). His 47 touchdowns drew recognition from the University of Florida where Smith accepted an athletic scholarship to play tailback for the Gators. In his Junior season at Florida, Smith led the Gators to a 27-10 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He had 187 rushing yards and was the game's MVP. Most of his yards came on a 94-yard touchdown run where Smith struggled to keep his pants up! Smith is a first-team All-SEC player in '66, '67, & '68; a first-team All-American in 1968, and a University of Florida Hall of Fame Inductee.
Smith played from 1969 to 1973 for the Los Angeles Rams. His most productive year was his rookie season in '69: 599 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. Smith was traded to the Redskins in '74 and only accumulated 149 yards in 7 games. In six years in the NFL, Smith totaled 2,057 rushing yards, 528 carries, 11 rushing touchdowns, 149 receptions, 1,176 receiving yards, and 5 receiving touchdowns.
Our second number 8 goes to the 8th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia.
At Dunbar High in Baltimore, Maryland, Tavon played running back and led the team to three consecutive Class 1A state titles. Austin had 2,660 rushing yards on 218 carries with 34 TDs. He also returned 12 punts for 446 yards and 2 TDs. Tavon set state records for career points (790), touchdowns (123), total offensive yards (9,258) and rushing yards (7,962). Austin also ran track as a sprinter and played on the basketball team.
As a Mountaineer, Austin was converted to a wide receiver his freshman year in 2009. As a junior, Austin was named a first-team All-American by CBS. He also set an Orange Bowl record in 2012 with four touchdown receptions. He was the 2012 All-Puprose Performer of the Year. In his four years at West Virginia, Austin played in 52 games and amassed 288 receptions for 3,413 yards and 29 TDs. He also carried the ball 110 times for 1,033 yards and 6 TDs. As a return specialist, Austin returned the punts 34 times for 433 yards with 1 TD and kickoffs 97 times for 2,407 yards and 4 TDs. He has numerous accolades.
In Austin's rookie season with the Rams, Austin played 13 games with 151 rushing yards (on 9 carries), 418 receiving yards, and 678 return yards. Austin's biggest game came week 10 at the Indianapolis Colts. Against the Colts, Austin caught the ball twice for 138 yards and 2 scores, while also returning the ball 5 times for a total of 172 yards, including a 98 yard punt return touchdown.
Austin's second year saw a decline in production; however, his 391 punt return yards ranked 3rd in the NFL in 2014--behind DeAnthony Thomas and Darren Sproles. Austin was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a returner behind Devin Hester and Darren Sproles. Perhaps his biggest play that season was actually faking a punt return against the Seahawks in week 7 so teammate Stedman Bailey could return it 90 yards untouched on the opposite sideline.
Austin's third season in St. Louis was arguably his best thus far. He had career highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (473), and receiving TDs (5). Austin also ran the ball 52 times for 434 yards and 4 TDs. After the Rams' final home game in St. Louis against the Buccaneers, Austin became the first player to have 5 receiving TDs, 4 rushing TDs, and 1 punt return TD in a single season since Gale Sayers in 1965 for the Chicago Bears.
I also want to mention one of the Rams greatest centers of all-time Rich Saul was an 8th round selection in 1970. He played at Michigan State and was drafted 204th overall. Saul was selected to six Pro Bowls during his career and earned Second-team All-Pro Honors in his final two seasons.
As always, please feel free to share some memories or add someone I might have missed!
