Bobby Smith (defensive back)

Bobby Smith
No. 23, 43
PositionCornerback
Personal information
Born (1938-07-05) July 5, 1938
Plain Dealing, Louisiana, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High schoolCompton (Compton, California)
CollegeUCLA
NFL draft1961: 7th round, 88th overall pick
AFL draft1961: 26th round, 205th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions5
Fumble recoveries1
Touchdowns2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Lee Smith (born July 5, 1938) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the UCLA Bruins, he played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams (1962–1965) and the Detroit Lions (1965–1966). He was also a kick and punt returner.

Early life

Smith was born on July 5, 1938, in Plain Dealing, Louisiana.[1] He attended Compton High School, in Compton, California. Smith played on Compton's football and basketball teams, and was a broad jumper, high jumper, and hurdler on its track and field team.[2][3] At the time, Smith was reported to be 6 ft ½ in (1.84 m) and 175 lb (79.4 kg) as a senior.[2] As a professional payer, he was reported to be 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m).[1]

Smith played offense, defense, and was a kicker on the football team. As a sophomore in 1954, he led Compton to the Coast League football championship as its star running halfback. He was injured during his junior year in 1955, with a clot in his leg, and missed all but two football games.[2] In the spring of 1956, he tied for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), southern section, title in the broad jump, and was CIF champion in 1957. He was also an All-League basketball player for Compton.[2][4] Smith was twice All-Coast League in both football and track.[4]

In 2018, he was inducted into Compton High School’s Hall of Fame.[4]

College career

Smith attended Compton Junior College in 1957. He played on its football team in the Western State Conference (WSC), and was first-team All-WSC at running back in 1957.[5][6] He was voted the team's outstanding back that season.[7]

Smith transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1959.[8] He played the second most minutes of any sophomore on the Bruins football team that season.[9] As a sophomore he was a backup to Billy Kilmer at quarterback. He had 289 rushing yards (second to Kilmer) in 93 carries with one rushing touchdown; and completed seven of 15 passes for 90 yards.[10][11]

As a junior running back in 1960, Smith had 281 yards on 54 carries for the Bruins.[12] As a senior in 1961, playing quarterback and tailback, Smith had 631 yards on 166 carries and nine rushing touchdowns. He passed for 305 yards and had one passing touchdown, on 16 completions in 33 pass attempts.[13][14] He led the AAWU conference (Athletic Association of Western Universities, now the PAC-12) in points scored, rushing attempts and touchdowns; and was second in rushing yards behind teammate Mike Haffner.[15] He was unanimously selected first-team All-AAWU at tailback in 1961.[14] The Bruins lost to the University of Minnesota, 21–3, in the January 1, 1962 Rose Bowl game.[16] Smith scored UCLA's only points in that game by kicking a field goal.[17] Smith had 22 yards passing and eight yards rushing in the Rose Bowl.[18]

He was also a broad jumper on UCLA's track team.[19] He was reported to have run the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds.[20]

Professional career

The Los Angeles Rams selected Smith in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL draft, 88th overall.[21] That draft took place at the end of December 1960.[22] The New York Titans selected him in the 26th round of the 1961 AFL draft, 205th overall.[23] The AFL draft occurred in early December 1960.[24] Smith played another year at UCLA (1961), rather than entering professional football, choosing to play for the Rams in 1962.

The Rams drafted Smith as a defensive back, and in training camp the Rams believed he would be the only rookie to make the team's starting line up in 1962.[25] The 24-year old Smith started nine games for the Rams at free safety in 1962, and was joined by fellow rookies Carver Shannon and future Hall of Fame tackle Merlin Olsen[26] as defensive starters during the season.[27] He intercepted one pass that season which he returned for 44 or 47 yards, against Milt Plum and the Detroit Lions in a mid-October game; setting up the Rams only touchdown in that game. He also returned one punt and two kickoffs that season.[28][29][30]

In 1963, Smith started all 14 games at right cornerback, with two interceptions.[31][32] In 1964, he started 12 games at strong safety and right cornerback, with two interceptions.[33] He returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown on October 18 against the San Francisco 49ers, tying a Rams record for longest interception return.[34][35] In 1964, Smith also returned 12 punts for 68 yards, and 20 kickoffs for 489 yards.[33] In a late October game against the Green Bay Packers, teammate Ed Meador blocked a Paul Hornung field goal attempt, and Smith recovered the ball and returned it 94 yards for the game-winning touchdown.[36][37]

Smith started five games in the Rams defensive backfield in 1965. He also returned 9 punts for 56 yards and 17 kickoffs for 457 yards.[38] In an October 31 game against the Detroit Lions, Smith fumbled the opening kickoff, which the Lions recovered, scoring a touchdown one play later.[39] In the third quarter of the same game, Smith fumbled a punt return that the Lions recovered and turned into another touchdown.[40] The Rams released Smith before their next game, and he was acquired by the Lions off of waivers in early November.[41][42] Smith was a reserve defensive back in six games with the Lions, returning one punt and one kickoff during the remainder of the 1965 season.[43] In his final NFL season (1966), Smith was primarily a reserve defensive back, starting in three games.[44] He was not used as a punt or kickoff returner that season.[45]

Smith was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 1967 expansion draft.[46] He was in the Saints' training camp in 1967, but was cut by coach Tom Fears in late August.[47]

Personal life

Smith was director of UCLA's Upward Bound & Talent Search program from 1971 through 1982, that worked with disadvantaged students seeking to enroll at UCLA.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Bobby Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d De La Vega, John (October 3, 1956). "Compton's Smith Prep Of Week". The Los Angeles Time. pp. 5, Part II.
  3. ^ "Wilson, Compton In Cinder Showdown". Independent (Long Beach, California). March 7, 1957. pp. C–3.
  4. ^ a b c d "Compton High School Hall of Fame". comptonhighalumni.org. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  5. ^ "Cerritos, Compton Top All-WSC Picks". San Pedro News-Pilot (San Pedro, California). December 5, 1957. p. 25.
  6. ^ "Compton Rips LACC Grids, 32–6; Cub Hoopsters Collect". Citizen-News (Hollywood, California). December 5, 1957. p. 16.
  7. ^ "Tartar Boosters Awards Banquet Held Monday Eve". Lynwood Press (Lynwood, California). January 16, 1958. pp. 1, Sec. 3.
  8. ^ "Hank Wallace Rated Grid Sleeper". Stockton Record (Stockton, California). United Press International. September 15, 1959. p. 30.
  9. ^ "Bruin Grids Get Letters". Citizen-News (Hollywood, California). December 22, 1959. p. 19.
  10. ^ "1959 UCLA Bruins Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  11. ^ "Huskies To Face UCLA In Coliseum Showdown". The Daily Olympian (Olympia, Washington). Associated Press. October 30, 1959. p. 12.
  12. ^ "1960 UCLA Bruins Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  13. ^ "1961 UCLA Bruins Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Honore on all-Big Five grid team". Palo Alto Times (Palo Alto, California). Associated Press. December 7, 1961. p. 33.
  15. ^ "1961 Athletic Association of Western Universities Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  16. ^ "Rose Bowl - Minnesota at UCLA Box Score, January 1, 1962". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  17. ^ "Option Play 'Fools' Bruins". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1962. pp. 3, Sec. 3.
  18. ^ Gregory, L. H. (January 2, 1962). "Gophers Crush Bruins In Rose Bowl". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). pp. 1, 3, Sec. 3.
  19. ^ Wolf, Al (February 28, 1960). "Four Top 24ft. In Troy-Bruin Meet". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 5, Part III.
  20. ^ Bob, Myers (September 16, 1959). "'Typical' Bruins to go against Rose Bowl contender in opener". Daily Palo Alto Times (Palo Alto, California). p. 40.
  21. ^ "1961 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  22. ^ "Draft – Here are the NFL draft selections to date". Independent (Long Beach, California). December 28, 1960. pp. C–3.
  23. ^ "1961 AFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  24. ^ "AFL Talent Scouts To Resume Draft At Dallas On Monday". Valley Evening Monitor (McAllen, Texas). United Press International. December 4, 1960. p. 19.
  25. ^ Abrams, Al (August 11, 1962). "Rams Tabbed Over Redskins". The Register (Santa Ana, California). pp. B1.
  26. ^ "Merlin Olsen | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  27. ^ "1962 Los Angeles Rams Roster & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  28. ^ "1962 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  29. ^ "Detroit Lions Nip Los Angeles, 13–10". Durham Morning Herald (Durham, North Carolina). Associated Press. October 15, 1962. pp. 3B.
  30. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - October 14th, 1962". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  31. ^ "1963 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  32. ^ "Colts–Rams Lineups". The Sun (Baltimore, Maryland). December 15, 1963. pp. 4A.
  33. ^ a b "1964 Los Angeles Rams Roster & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  34. ^ Dunbar, Bill (October 19, 1964). "Nightmare In L.A.–49ers Blitzed, 42–14". Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California). pp. 35–36.
  35. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams - October 18th, 1964". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  36. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers - October 25th, 1964". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  37. ^ "Surprising Rams Darken Packers' Chances, 27–17". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin). Associated Press. October 26, 1964. p. 6.
  38. ^ "1965 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  39. ^ "Lightning-Like Lions Crush Rams, 31–7". Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, North Carolina). Associated Press. November 1, 1965. p. 16.
  40. ^ Stile, Maxwell (November 1, 1965). "Vikings Set To See Strange Sights". Citizen-News (Hollywood, California). pp. B2.
  41. ^ "Rams Release Bobby Smith". The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona). Associated Press. November 6, 1965. pp. B3.
  42. ^ "Lions Acquire Hill [sic] From Rams". The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin). Associated Press. November 10, 1965. pp. D1.
  43. ^ "1965 Detroit Lions Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  44. ^ "1966 Detroit Lions Roster & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  45. ^ "1966 Detroit Lions Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  46. ^ Hand, Jack (February 11, 1967). "Hornung's a Saint As N.O. Franchise Combs Stockpile". The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana). Associated Press. pp. 1–C.
  47. ^ "Miami Dolphins Lop 10 Players off Roster". The Houston Post. August 23, 1967. pp. 3, Sec. 4.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.