Jump to content

Robert Lavette

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 37.201.194.238 (talk) at 05:06, 30 August 2018 (It's "Georgia Institute of Technology", *not* 'University'!!). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Robert Lavette
No. 29, 22
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1963-09-08) September 8, 1963 (age 61)
Cartersville, Georgia
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Cartersville (GA)
College:Georgia Tech
NFL draft:1985 / round: 4 / pick: 103
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:33
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Lee Lavette (born September 8, 1963) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Early years

Lavette attended Cartersville High School, where he played as a running back, rushing for 2,103 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior,[1] while receiving Georgia Class AA back of the year honors.

He gained 5,870 career rushing yards and 49 touchdowns.[2] He set 9 career records, 7 season marks and three-single-game records.

College career

Lavette accepted a football scholarship from Georgia Tech. As a freshman, he was the ACC third leading rusher (866 yards), third in receiving (45 receptions), first in all purpose yards and first in kickoff returns.[3] His 307 receiving yards led the team. Against the University of Alabama, Lavette's fourth quarter touchdown (his second of the game) capped of an 80-yard touchdown drive. The Yellow Jackets would go on to lose the remainder of their games and finish 1-10 on the year. It was also Georgia Tech's first football win over the Tide since 1962.[4]

As a sophomore, he led the ACC in rushing (1,208 yards), touchdowns (19) also a school and conference record, all-purpose yards (1,570 yards) and scoring average (10.4) points. His touchdown total was a school record and he was second in the nation in scoring.[5] Against the number one ranked University of Georgia, he rushed for a career-high 203 yards on 38 carries, outgaining Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker by 40 yards.

As a junior, he missed all or parts of four games because of injuries, finishing with 803 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.[6] As a senior, he finished ninth nationally in rushing with 1,189 yards and a 108.1 yards-per-game average.

  • 1981: 188 carries for 866 yards and 7 touchdowns. 45 catches for 307 yards.[7]
  • 1982: 280 carries for 1208 yards and 19 touchdowns. 25 catches for 286 yards.
  • 1983: 186 carries for 803 yards and 5 touchdowns. 21 catches for 123 yards and 1 touchdown.
  • 1984: 260 carries for 1189 yards and 14 touchdowns. 23 catches for 146 yards.

In 1990, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.

Records/ Accomplishments

Lavette finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher, receiver and scorer. He finished with 4,066 rushing yards, 114 receptions for 862 yards and scored 46 touchdowns for 276 points. He had 18 100-yard games and accounted for 5,393 total yards, with an average of 125.5 total yards per game. At the time he ranked number 17th on the NCAA's all-time rushing list and set 19 school records.

To this day is considered by many to be one of the top running backs in Georgia Tech's history. He still maintains many career yardage records and is a member of the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame and was named an ACC Legend.

  • Georgia Tech career rushing yards- 4,066 (1981–1984).[8]
  • Georgia Tech career all-purpose- 5,393 [8]
  • Georgia Tech (non-kicker) scoring leader- 46 touchdowns, 276 total points [9]
  • Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (1990)[10]
  • Most career rushing touchdowns (45)
  • Most career touchdowns (46)
  • Most total points (276).
  • Most 100-yard rushing games (18)
  • Single-season rushing touchdowns (19)
  • Most career carries (914)
  • Most carries in a game (39)
  • Most career receptions (114)

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Lavette was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft.[11] As a rookie, he backed up Tony Dorsett and was the team's top kickoff return player, making 34 returns for 682 yards. On December 4, he was placed on the injured reserve list after spraining his knee while covering a Kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 24.[12]

In 1986, with the addition of Herschel Walker to the Cowboys team, it was difficult for him find playing time at running back. He began to return punts as well as kickoffs during the regular season.

Lavette had some great training camp performances, but he never developed as a consistent running back, playing just 4 games in 1987, before being waived on November 3.[13]

Philadelphia Eagles

On November 5, 1987, he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles. After being declared inactive in two games, he played just one game against the St. Louis Cardinals, returning 2 kickoffs for 37 yards. He was released on December 11.

Atlanta Falcons

On March 22, 1988, he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons.[14] He was cut on August 29.[15]

Personal life

His cousin Ray Donaldson was an All-Pro NFL player.

References

  1. ^ "Lavette inks Jacket pact". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Tech's Lavette Has 'Herschel' Ambitions". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ramblin' Robert Lavette putting his name in Tech record book at fast rate". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia - Bob Boyles, Paul Guido - Google Books". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  5. ^ "Robert Lavette". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Tech's versatile Robert Lavette gets high marks from pro scouts". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. ^ "Robert Lavette college stats". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Georgia Tech Football History Database". Nationalchamps.net. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  9. ^ "Georgia Tech Football Individual Career Leaders". Ramblinwreck.cstv.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  10. ^ "Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site - RamblinWreck.com". Ramblinwreck.cstv.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  11. ^ "Fourth round for Butler, Lavette". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "Lavette On Injured List". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "Fans Love Cowboys Again". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  14. ^ "Falcons sign Lavette". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Lavette, nine others put on waivers by Falcons". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Lavette&oldid=857195941"