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Frank Preston LeMaster (March 12, 1952 – March 23, 2023) was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1974 through 1982. At 6'1", 195 lbs., LeMaster was drafted by the Eagles from the University of Kentucky in the fourth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He was selected to his one and only Pro Bowl in 1981.

LeMaster died on March 23, 2023, at the age of 71.

Early life and education

LeMaster was born on March 12, 1952, in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Bryan Station High School, and despite only seeing major action in his last two seasons, compiled 40 touchdowns, 3,000 yards, and helped them reach the Class AA state finals while playing fullback. After his graduation from there, LeMaster played four seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1970 to 1973. He spent his freshman year at his high school position before changing to halfback as a sophomore. He started the first two games of 1971 at halfback, but only was given the ball 10 times, averaging four yards-per-carry.

LeMaster's coach then shifted him to being a reserve, and after playing three games in that role, was changed to being a tight end; he spent a time in that position, recording one reception for eight yards, but was then asked to play linebacker. He was then asked to return to being a halfback, before finally becoming a linebacker; all of these moves occurred during his sophomore year, although during this entire period (with the exception of his two starts at halfback) he only played on special teams.

Through the first five games of the 1972 season, LeMaster, remaining an inside linebacker, was the leading tackler on the team. However, after a loss to North Carolina, he was benched, with the coaching staff blaming him for poor defense. He was asked to switch to outside linebacker, but refused, and the rest of the year on the bench. He was a starter as a senior, but not a single National Football League (NFL) team show interest in him during the season. However, he was named All-American at the end of the year, and was invited through the efforts of Kentucky assistant Buckshot Underwood to several all-star games, including the Blue–Gray Football Classic, at which he served as a team captain. An impressive performance there led to him receiving interest from NFL scouts. Vermeil described him as "an outstandingly conditioned player. He was very respected by the coaching staff and players. He was just that kind of guy who had his head screwed on straight. Frank wasn't vocal with his ideas. He set examples"

Professional career

LeMaster was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (89th overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft. He was also selected in the 1974 WFL Draft, but remained with Philadelphia. He started all four preseason games as a rookie, and ended up making the team as the second-string left linebacker, behind Steve Zabel. He appeared in every game as a rookie and became the starter the following year after Zabel was traded; LeMaster went on to be one of the anchors of the Eagles defense for the next several years, and along with Bill Bergey and John Bunting, formed one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL in the 1970s. He played a total of nine seasons for the team and appeared in all 129 of their games in that period, starting the final 115. Along with Robert Brazile, he was the only player at his position to start every NFL game from 1975 to 1982. LeMaster is also fourth all-time in team history for starts by a linebacker, trailing only William Thomas (129), Chuck Bednarik (122), and Bunting (116).

In LeMaster's first four seasons, the Eagles won only 20 out of 56 games. Then the team hired coach Dick Vermeil, and they went from 4–10 in 1976, to 5–9 in 1977, before reaching the playoffs as a wildcard in 1978 and making the playoffs again in 1979; LeMaster was a vital figure in helping the team turn around.

Later life and death

References

1. "Eagles mourn the passing of Frank LeMaster". Philadelphia Eagles. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
2. "Frank LeMaster". Pro Football Archives.
3. Ruehling, Mike (November 22, 1969). "Bryan Station Gains State Finals". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Frank LeMaster". Pro Football Archives.
6. Moss, Steve (March 25, 2023). "UK great Frank Lemaster dies". WKYT-TV.
7. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Sullivan, Mike (April 6, 1973). "On the way up after seasons of uncertainty". The Courier-Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Frank LeMaster". Chester County Sports Hall of Fame.
17. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "1974 NFL Draft". Pro Football Archives.
20. "Frank LeMaster". Pro Football Archives.
21. Tanenbaum, Rob (July 17, 1975). "LeMaster atop Birds' linebacker eligibles". Courier-Post. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
22. Kerr, Jeff (March 25, 2023). "Eagles great linebacker Frank LeMaster, who was part of 1980 NFC Championship team, dies at age 71". CBS Sports.
23. Kerr, Jeff (March 25, 2023). "Eagles great linebacker Frank LeMaster, who was part of 1980 NFC Championship team, dies at age 71". CBS Sports.
24. Kerr, Jeff (March 25, 2023). "Eagles great linebacker Frank LeMaster, who was part of 1980 NFC Championship team, dies at age 71". CBS Sports.
25. Kerr, Jeff (March 25, 2023). "Eagles great linebacker Frank LeMaster, who was part of 1980 NFC Championship team, dies at age 71". CBS Sports.
26. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
27. Clay, John (May 29, 1985). "Plenty of heart made LeMaster's NFL career tick". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 21, 25 – via Newspapers.com.

• 1952 births
• 2023 deaths
• American football linebackers
• Kentucky Wildcats football players
• Philadelphia Eagles players
• National Conference Pro Bowl players
• Players of American football from Lexington, Kentucky