Leroy Smith (American football)

Leroy Smith was a college football player for the University of Iowa from 1988-1991. He was a defensive lineman that was named a consensus first team All-American and the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year in 1991.

Playing career
Leroy Smith came to the University of Iowa from Sicklerville, New Jersey. He played running back in high school but moved to the defensive end position in college, because Iowa already had a stockpile of good running backs. As a junior in 1990, Smith played on Iowa’s Big Ten championship team that went to the Rose Bowl.

Leroy Smith had perhaps the most dominating senior season a Hawkeye defensive end has ever had. His signature game came against Ohio State in 1991. He recorded 14 tackles, including a school-record five quarterback sacks, in Iowa’s 16-9 victory. Smith had 18 sacks on the season, which broke a Big Ten record that had stood for 14 years.

Honors
Leroy Smith was named a consensus first team All-American in 1991, as he helped lead Iowa to a 10-1-1 record and a top ten finish in the national rankings. He was also named both the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.