He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earned consensus All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team.
Lavalais accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, where he played for coach Nick Saban & the LSU Tigers football team from 2000 to 2003.
Lavalais started in 41 of 47 games in which he appeared for LSU and registered 202 tackles, 12 sacks, 10 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one interception and one blocked kick.
Lavalais was selected as a fifth round (142nd pick overall) choice by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2004 NFL draft.
[1] 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 diagnosis of a sports hernia.