Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame inaugural class includes 15 former UGA players
On Thursday, the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame announced its inaugural Induction Class of 45 former players. Of those 45, 15 are former Georgia football players.
The voting began in the early spring. By mid-June, the final ballot was narrowed down to 100 names. The nine former Georgia high school football players who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame earned automatic inductions, which included two former UGA players — Champ Bailey and Fran Tarkenton.
There were eight eras represented: Pre-1950’s, 1950’s, 1960’s, GIA, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s.
Upon completion of the 100-person ballot, all board members were required to vote for a minimum of two players from each era and select a total of 36 players. There was only one unanimous selection and that was Georgia legend Herschel Walker, a graduate of Johnson County, who received votes from all 35 board members.
Strong character and high school accomplishments were prioritized in the voting. In order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame players have to be out of high school for at least eight years and requires that they be retired from football. That’s why former Georgia Bulldogs like Nick Chubb and Justin Fields, plus non-UGA quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Cam Newton are not included in the initial class.
Here’s a look at the 15 former Georgia Bulldogs who will be officially inducted on October 22 during a ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.
QB Buck Belue
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Valdosta, 1977
Pat Dye
Auburn Tigers head coach Pat Dye (left) and running back Bo Jackson (right) talk during the 1985 season. (Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)
High school: Richmond Academy, 1956
WR Terrence Edwards
(AP Photo/Ric Feld)
High school: Washington County, 1997
WR Andre Hastings
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Morrow, 1989
RB Garrison Hearst
USA TODAY Sports
High school: Lincoln County, 1989
QB/RB Andy Johnson
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Athens, 1969
HB Bob McWhorter
FWIW #UGAFootball Fact of the Week
TMK, the 1x in #UGA football history a game was played in snow occurred on Thanksgiving of 1912 in Athens. Led by eventual All-Amer. HB Bob McWhorter, the Red & Black upset Auburn, 12-6, on a snow-filled, slushy Herty Field.#UGAvsMizzou pic.twitter.com/EVKNICWWW0
— Patrick Garbin (@patrickgarbin) November 12, 2020
High school: Gordon Military, 1909
DE David Pollack
Photo By Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Shiloh, 2000
DL Bill Stanfill
Syndication: Nashville
High school: Cairo, 1964
OL Matt Stinchcomb
Craig Jones /Allsport
High school: Parkview, 1994
RB Herschel Walker
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports.
High school: Johnson County, 1979
WR Hines Ward
Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Forest Park, 1993
QB Eric Zeier
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Marietta, 1990
DB Champ Bailey
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Charlton County, 1995
QB Fran Tarkenton
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
High school: Athens, 1957
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