Jerry LeVias has overcome many obstacles in his life to achieve his success. At the age of 12, LeVias suffered a stroke which left him unable to walk for five years, but he rebounded to become a barrier-breaker in college football.

The turbulent 1960s saw a huge change in the SMU football program when LeVias accepted the Mustangs’ offer to become the first African-American football player to earn an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference.

LeVias, who chose SMU largely because of its accounting program, eventually was named All- America, Academic All-America and Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1968 when he set the SMU record for receiving yards in a season (1,131).

A coach of a high school all-star team of which LeVias was a member said of the wide receiver, “He’ll make a good coach out of someone.” That coach’s name was Doak Walker, the same man who would see many of his own collegiate records broken by LeVias.

The Texas native was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2003.

Starting in 2009, a deserving student-athlete on the SMU football team has been chosen annually to wear the number “23” on his jersey to honor LeVias for his contributions to America, the sport of football and SMU.
 

• Played football at SMU between 1966-1968
• Named All-SWC selection in 1966, 1967 and 1968
• Holds SMU records for receiving yards in a season and in a game
• Inducted into Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2013
• Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003
• Selected by the Houston Oilers as the 40th overall pick in the 1969 NFL draft (played six NFL seasons with Houston and San Diego)
• SMU HOF class of 1980

Jerry LeVias had the chance to meet with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he spoke at SMU on March 17, 1966 
Dallas Morning News - Dec. 18, 2019 | Jerry LeVias made history at SMU with help from Hayden Fry, but it was never easy

ESPN.com - Feb. 21, 2014 | Dr. King Meeting Lasts a Lifetime

WFAA (ABC 8) - Oct. 19, 2020 | 'Peaceful protesting for equality': Former SMU football player Jerry LeVias sees parallels from 1960s, current protests.

MUSTANGS CHOSEN TO WEAR #23 TO HONOR LeVIAS
• Isaiah Nwokobia, S, 2023-25 (SMUFB: Nwokobia #23 for third season, DMN: Nwokobia earned #23 for second straight year)
• Austin Upshaw, WR, 2022
• Shaine Hailey, LB, 2021
• Brandon Stephens, DB, 2020
• Rodney Clemons, S, 2019
• Jordan Wyatt, CB, 2018
• Nick Horton, DE, 2016-17
• Jeremiah Gaines, TE, 2015
• Stephon Sanders, LB, 2012-14
• Chris Banjo, DB, 2009-11