(Photo by: Danny Fulgencio)
During his 12 seasons with the NFL, Wade Smith was signed with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks and
Philadelphia Eagles. But he cut his teeth as a Lake Highlands Wildcat, taking part in the 1998 Cinderella season when the team made it to the state semifinals. These days, he’s more focused on giving back with his namesake nonprofit, which focuses on supporting youth, specifically through literacy programs and sports. He also writes children’s books with a moral, tackling issues like bullying.
Three things to know:
- He calls our neighborhood a “football factory,” telling the Advocate in 2009, “There’s guys that throughout my travels, going to different teams, that know all about Lake Highlands.”
- He made history in 2011 while playing for the Texans as the only offensive lineman to ever recover a loose ball and score a touchdown.
- He attended Wallace Elementary and Lake Highlands Junior High, and is happy to joke about LHJH’s neighborhood rivalry with Forest Meadow.
