Chad Lavalais
Encyclopedia
Chad Douglas Lavalais is an American
football
free-agent who played two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons
. Although a former starter, he was released by the Atlanta Falcons
on September 1, 2006 after mediocre performance and poor pre-season conditioning.
at Marksville High School in Louisiana
. He was a Class 3A all-state selection as a tight end
in 1997 in addition to being selected as an all-district choice on offense and defense.
He first played for LSU
in 2000 after originally signing with the Tigers in 1998. He spent two seasons working as a prison guard at a correctional facility near his hometown of Marksville while working to improve his ACT
score to become eligible to play. While at LSU, he majored in general studies.
Lavalais started in 41 of 47 games for LSU
and registered 202 tackles, 12 sacks
, 10 passes
defensed, one fumble
recovery, one interception and one blocked kick
. He was selected as an All American first-team member and All-Southeastern Conference pick after starting every game as a senior. He was also named National Defensive
Player of the Year by The Sporting News
. He played in nine games as a freshman, recording 22 tackles and one sack.
choice by the Atlanta Falcons
in 2004.
Lavalais played in every game with five starts at defensive tackle and finished the season with 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed. He also recorded the following game statistics:
He was credited with 33 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defensed. http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=1643 He speared Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb
in the first game of the season, causing an injury to McNabb that caused physical problems for the remainder of the season and his life, eventually leading to a diagnoses of a sports hernia
. Lavalais was fined $7500 by the NFL for the hit. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8849467 The Falcons waived Lavalais on September 2, 2006 right before the 2006 NFL Season
. Lavalais reportedly worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals
as well as the Minnesota Vikings
but was not signed. As such he did not play a snap in 2006.
. Lavalais was released by the Panthers on August 26, 2007 before the start of the 2007 NFL Season
. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/specials/preview/2007/08/26/panthers.moves.ap/ Lavailais did not return to the NFL.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
free-agent who played two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Although a former starter, he was released by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 1, 2006 after mediocre performance and poor pre-season conditioning.
High School and College
Lavalais lettered in football and trackTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
at Marksville High School in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He was a Class 3A all-state selection as a tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in 1997 in addition to being selected as an all-district choice on offense and defense.
He first played for LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 2000 after originally signing with the Tigers in 1998. He spent two seasons working as a prison guard at a correctional facility near his hometown of Marksville while working to improve his ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
score to become eligible to play. While at LSU, he majored in general studies.
Lavalais started in 41 of 47 games for LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and registered 202 tackles, 12 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, 10 passes
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
defensed, one fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
recovery, one interception and one blocked kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
. He was selected as an All American first-team member and All-Southeastern Conference pick after starting every game as a senior. He was also named National Defensive
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
Player of the Year by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. He played in nine games as a freshman, recording 22 tackles and one sack.
2004 Season (Falcons)
Lavalais was selected as a fifth round (142nd pick overall) draftDraft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
choice by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2004.
Lavalais played in every game with five starts at defensive tackle and finished the season with 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed. He also recorded the following game statistics:
- Posted three tackles apiece in a reserve role vs. Arizona (9/26) and at Carolina (10/3).
- Led all defensive linemen with six tackles vs. Detroit (10/10).
- Made first career start in place of Rod Coleman (shoulder) and posted three tackles.
- Tallied two tackles apiece at Denver (10/31) and vs. Tampa Bay (11/14).
- Registered three tackles apiece vs. New Orleans (11/28) and at Tampa Bay (12/5).
- Started Weeks 14-17 in place of Ed Jasper (wrist).
- Tallied three tackles vs. Oakland (12/12) and four tackles vs. Carolina (12/18).
- Posted a career-high seven tackles at New Orleans (12/26).
- Recorded three tackles at Seattle (1/2)..
- Recorded one tackle in a reserve role vs. St. Louis in the NFC Divisional Playoff game vs. St. Louis (1/15/05).
- Tallied two tackles at Philadelphia (1/23/05) in the NFC Championship Game.
2005 Season (Falcons)
Lavalais started in all fourteen games of the 2005 season.He was credited with 33 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defensed. http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=1643 He speared Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
in the first game of the season, causing an injury to McNabb that caused physical problems for the remainder of the season and his life, eventually leading to a diagnoses of a sports hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
. Lavalais was fined $7500 by the NFL for the hit. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8849467 The Falcons waived Lavalais on September 2, 2006 right before the 2006 NFL Season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. Lavalais reportedly worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
as well as the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
but was not signed. As such he did not play a snap in 2006.
2007 Season (Panthers)
On March 27, 2007 Lavalais signed a one-year contract with the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Lavalais was released by the Panthers on August 26, 2007 before the start of the 2007 NFL Season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/specials/preview/2007/08/26/panthers.moves.ap/ Lavailais did not return to the NFL.