Larry Hefner
No. 28, 51 | |||||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | August 2, 1949||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | North Mecklenburg (NC) | ||||||
College: | Clemson Tigers (1967–1971) | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1972 / Round: 14 / Pick: 346 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Larry Douglas Hefner (born August 2, 1949) is a former
Early life
Hefner was born on August 2, 1949, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up there.[1][2] He played football in the Pop Warner Little Scholars program and later played while attending North Mecklenburg High School.[3] He was North Mecklenberg's second NFL alumni and was a two-way player for the school, being a linebacker on defense while on offense a guard.[3][4] He was regarded as one of the best linebackers in his county in the 1966 season and was co-team captain, being named The Charlotte News All-State and All-Mecklenberg.[3] Hefner was also invited to the East–West All-Star Game.[5] His coach said of him: "I've never coached a better lineman than Larry."[3] He committed to play college football for the Clemson Tigers in December 1966.[3]
College career
Hefner joined the Tigers in 1967, spending that season on their freshman squad.[6] Playing linebacker, he was their leading tackler despite missing a game.[6] He was unable to play in 1968 due to a thyroid condition but returned for the 1969 season.[7] He lettered in 1969 and became a starter.[8][9] He returned as a starter for his junior year in 1970; that season, he weighed at 208 pounds (94 kg) and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.0 seconds.[2][10] He increased his weight to 235 pounds (107 kg) and improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.85 by his senior season in 1971.[2] He was a top player for the team that year, being described by The News & Observer as the "anvil" of the defense; the paper noted that he "jars running backs with some Dick Butkus-like jolts."[11] Clemson head coach Hootie Ingram called Hefner "as fine a linebacker as I've ever been associated with."[11] At the end of the season, he was selected All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[12]
Professional career
Hefner was selected in the 14th round (346th overall) of the
Personal and later life
Hefner was married and had two children as of 1976.
References
- ^ a b c d "Larry Hefner Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
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- ^ "North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, NC) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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- ^ a b "Larry Hefner Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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- ^ "1972 NFL Draft". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Larry Hefner Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "1973 Green Bay Packers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "1974 Green Bay Packers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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