Tag: L.J. Smith

by Mike Pavlichko

Small school, big dreams: L.J. Smith talks about his time at Highland Park and beyond as Owls retire his jersey

L.J. Smith was strong, but he was a skinny kid growing up in Highland Park.

But that skinny kid had big dreams, and after has an incredibly successful scholastic career with the Owls, he moved on to Rutgers, bulked up, worked out, studied hard, made the grade, and played for both Terry Shea and Greg Schiano at Rutgers.

Then, it was the NFL, playing for the Eagles, and nearly reaching the ultimate goal. He played in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Patriots.

Through all those years, Smith ever forget where he came from, or the influence of legend Joe Policastro, his head coach then who’s still around the program, maybe mentoring the next Owl to have his jersey retired, and his number hanging from the press box at Jay Dakelman Field.

L.J. Smith’s number 85 hangs atop the press box at Jay Dakelman Field after it was retired by the Owls on October 23, 2026. (Photo: Marcus Borden)

Smith had his number retired Friday night at half time of the team’s Goal Post Trophy Game against arch-rival Metuchen, a 35-0 win that sent the Owl faithful home with smiles all the way around.

Click below to watch L.J. Smith talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden before Friday night’s Highland Park-Metuchen game: