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Father's footsteps were right path for Billy Ray Smith Jr.

FAYETTEVILLE — Billy Ray Smith Jr., a legacy Arkansas Razorback and kingpin on strong University of Arkansas defenses in the early 1980s, is one of the all-time great San Diego Chargers.

The son of defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith Sr., the Fayetteville-born and Plano, Texas, native is an appropriate choice to kick off the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s list of the top 10 Razorbacks of all time in pro football.

Smith was a defensive lineman for the Razorbacks, playing both inside and out, and he earned consensus All-America honors in 1981 and 1982.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette decided to tackle a fun project in the lead up to the basement-style, socially distant NFL Draft starting April 23.