SPORTS HISTORY IN BLACK: Bubba Smith becomes first overall pick for NFL’s Colts

The late Bubba Smith, standing at 6’7”, was best known as Moses Hightower, the giant police officer with tremendous strength in the “Police Academy” movies. Bubba Smith, defensive end of the Baltimore Colts, is shown in 1972. Photo credit: The Associated Press But before that, Smith was a professional football player. And before he was a professional, he played defensive tackle at Michigan State University. Smith was eligible for the 1967 NFL draft and on March 14, 1967, the Baltimore Colts madeSmith the first overall pick. Smith would go on to play nine seasons in the NFL with the Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers before calling it a career.The post SPORTS HISTORY IN BLACK: Bubba Smith becomes first overall pick for NFL’s Colts first appeared on NABJ Black News & Views.