When L.J. smith was growing up in Highland Park, his mother Kathy stressed the importance of earning a college degree. But when Smith left Rutgers in 2003 after a stellar four-year career, he was 18 credits shy of graduation.
Smith was a second-round pick by the Eagles in the 2003 NFL Draft. The tight end spent seven seasons in the NFL, highlighted by an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 when he scored a touchdown in the Eagles' 24-21 loss to the Patriots.
After his NFL career ended in 2009, Smith opened a clothing store in Edison.