NEW YORK – Leonard Smith, a two-time first team All-Southland Conference defensive back, 1982 first team Associate Press All-American, nine-year NFL veteran including a 1986 NFL All-Pro selection, and the highest NFL Draft selection in school and conference history (17^th overall pick, 1^st round in 1983), took his rightful place in the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday night at the 57^th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in New York City.
 
Smith joined 13 other First Team All-America players and two legendary coaches as part of the Class of 2014.  The inductees were selected from the national ballot of 75 All-America players and six elite coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and the 87 players and 26 coaches from the divisional ranks.
 
"I am truly blessed to be a part of a group of players, some I played with, some I played against, some I hit a little hard at times. But it's truly an honor," said Smith in an interview with Bonnie Bernstein. "When I got the news, I was driving. I opened up the box, started reading it. Tears came to my eyes. I had to pull over. I told this story to a lot of people. I had to sit there for a while and clear up my eyes."
 
A native of Baton Rouge and product of Lee High School, Smith played for the Cowboys from 1980-82 and earned first team all-conference honors in 1981 and 1982.  In 1982, he was named the Southland and Louisiana Defensive Player of the Year as well as picking up first team Associated Press All-America honors.

He remains the school and conference record holder with 17 career blocked kicks (punts, FGs, PATs) and led the NCAA in that category in both the 1980 and 1981 seasons.  His four blocked field goals in 1981 and 10 career blocked field goals as well as he 17 combined career blocked kicks, continues to hold the top spot in the NCAA record book. 
 
He helped lead the Cowboys to the 1980 Southland Conference championship and played in the Independence Bowl, a 16-14 loss to Southern Mississippi.  He was a freshman on the 1979 undefeated team that won the league title, but did not letter.  He was named the Cowboys' MVP in 1982 and was inducted into the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. His No. 46 jersey was retired by McNeese this past fall and is one of just three retired in school history, joining David Poche (76) and Charles Keuhn (82).
 
Smith said: "Coming from McNeese, everybody said, where is McNeese? It's in Louisiana. You think LSU first. I had an opportunity to go there first. I didn't get that ticket punched with the leg injury. But (I) went to McNeese and played with a lot of pride and always wanted to prove a point. No stage was ever too big for me to participateon.
 
"Every day I played, I played for the pride of my mother, father, for everybody from small schools. Louisiana Tech used to be in out conference before they moved out. We used to whip them pretty good. Everybody wondered where you're from. But it's not where you're from, it's where you're going.
 
"I got an opportunity to ride this train to the best place that I will ever, ever be a part of. I'm blessed for that. You can't take it away from my. I'll be able to see it all the time. My grandkids will be able to see it, loved ones, friends.
 
"So I am truly blessed, honored, glad to put McNeese on the map and let y'all know it's a great school."

Smith was drafted in the first round as the 17th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the then-St. Louis Cardinals and would earn All-Pro recognition in 1986.  His draft selection continues to rank as the highest pick in Southland Conference history and only matched by John Stephens of Northwestern State in the 1988 draft.
  
In 1988, Smith signed on with the Buffalo Bills where he helped lead the team to four straight AFC East Division titles (1988, 89, 90, 91), two AFC championships (1990, 1991), and played in two Super Bowls (XXV and XXVI).
 
He joins Fred Dean of Louisiana Tech (1971-74) as the only two players from the Southland Conference to be inducted into the Hall.
 
Other players that were inducted with Smith included Dre Bly, defensive back from North Carolina; Tony Boselli, offensive tackle from USC; Dave Butz, defensive tackle from Purdue; Shane Conlan, linebacker from Penn State; Joe Hamilton, quarterback from Georgia Tech; John Huard, linebacker from Maine; Darrin Nelson, halfback from Stanford; Willie Road, offensive lineman from Louisiana Tech; John Sciarra, quarterback from UCLA; Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver from South Carolina; Derrick Thomas (deceased), linebacker from Alabama; and Wesley Walls, tight end from Mississippi.
 
Coaches to be inducted are Mike Bellotti of Chico State and Oregon, and Jerry Moore of North Texas, Texas Tech and Appalachian State.
 
In June, Smith will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2015.