KINGSVILLE, Texas (Football) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville lost one of the greatest players in school history Monday as
Eldridge Small passed away at the age of 65 according to Ralph Cooper of KCOH Radio in Houston.
Small was the first round pick of the New York Giants in the 1972 NFL Draft, playing three seasons in the National Football League. A wide receiver on the Javelina squad, Small was the all-time receptions leader and a two-time NAIA champion before
Robert Armstrong broke the record in 2013.
Small was the offensive coordinator at Ross Shaw Sterling High School in Houston. He and his wife Lorett have three children, Jarvis, Eldridge III and Anrea.
Small was inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame in 1991.
An Associated Press Little All-American first team honoree in 1971, he was named to the NAIA All-America squad and was selected to play in the Senior Bowl.
He was All-Texas College, All-Lone Star Conference for three seasons and was named to the Houston Chronicle's all-college team that included players from university and college division schools.
With Small in the lineup, the Javelinas won three LSC championships (1968, 1969 and 1970) and were the NAIA national champions in 1969 and 1970. The team had a 39-7-0 record during Small's four years on the roster.
Small received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&I in 1972.
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