Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Champ Bailey

Charlton County High School Graduate

Champ Bailey was a three-sport star at Charlton County who contributed in all three phases on the gridiron. He closed out his varsity career with a school-record 5,855 all-purpose yards, 394 points scored and eight interceptions. He rushed for 417 yards in a 1995 game against Atkinson County, the fourth-highest single-game total in state history at the time. Bailey maintained his versatility at Georgia by becoming one of college football’s greatest multiple-threat playmakers. In his final season with the Bulldogs, Bailey had 52 tackles, three interceptions, 47 catches for 744 yards, five touchdowns, 16 carries, 12 kickoff returns for 261 yards and four punt returns to fuel his 103.5 all-purpose yards-per-game average. The Washington Redskins took Bailey with the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, and he became the first player from Folkston, Ga., to play in the NFL. At age 21, he was the youngest player to intercept three passes in a game. Bailey would start 212 games over his 15-year career and produce an NFL record 203 pass breakups. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2006 with 10 and finished his career with 52. Bailey holds the NFL record for most Pro Bowl selections for a defensive back (12). Bailey was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, his first year on the ballot. He made the College Football Hall of fame in 2022.

Mel Blount

Lyons Industrial High School Graduate

Mel Blount, the youngest of 11 children, was a four-sport athlete at Lyons Industrial before becoming one of the greatest cornerbacks to play the game. He excelled as a prep star after mastering what he called the “country football” style his seven older brothers instilled in him. Lyons Industrial was a small Toombs County school for African Americans that closed shortly after Blount graduated in the 1960s. Despite limited exposure, Blount earned a scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., and twice was named Southwestern Athletic Conference MVP and earned Pro Scouts All American as a safety and cornerback. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Blount with the 53rd overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft, and he earned the starting cornerback job in 1972 and held the role for 12 years. Blount led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 1975 and was the league’s defensive MVP. He was a three-time All-Pro selection and four-time Super Bowl champion. Blount’s physical style prompted the NFL to change its rules in 1978 to prevent contact with receivers beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage. In 1989, Blount was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1991, he was named one of the Eight National Heroes by the U.S. News and World Report for his impact off the field. He was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team in 1994.

Richard Dent 

Murphy High School Graduate

Richard Dent starred at Murphy High School in Atlanta in the 1970s and became one of the greatest defensive ends of his era. Dent’s impact as a varsity standout was recognized on March 27, 2013, when the City of Atlanta recognized “Richard Dent Day” and enshrined him into the “Hometown Hall of Famers.” Dent was recruited by coaching legend John Merritt and earned a scholarship to Tennessee State, where he played from 1979 to 1982. He finished his TSU career with 158 tackles, 39.5 sacks and six fumble recoveries and was taken by the Chicago Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 draft. Dent played every game as a rookie and went on to a 14-year career. He led the NFC with 17.5 sacks in 1984 and had double-digit sacks in eight of the next 10 seasons. Dent was the Super Bowl XX most valuable player (the first former Georgia high school player to win the award) in the Bears’ 46-10 triumph over New England, and he wrapped up his career as the Bears’ all-time sacks leader (124.5). Dent’s career sack tally (137.5) is tied for the 10th-most in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Ray Guy 

Thomson High School Graduate

Ray Guy was a four-sport star at Thomson High and excelled in a variety of roles in football before becoming the first punter elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At Thomson, Guy played quarterback, safety, linebacker and tailback in addition to his kicking and punting duties. He led the Bulldogs to state titles in 1967 and 1968. In ’68, he averaged 49.7 yards per punt. Thomson was 43-2 in Guy’s four years at the school. In 2007, the AJC ranked Guy as the state’s 17th-best high school football player of all-time. Guy also was a standout baseball pitcher, basketball player and track-and-field athlete at Thomson. Guy went on to punt, kick and play safety at Southern Mississippi. He made a 61-yard field goal in a Utah snowstorm and punted for 93 yards against Ole Miss. Guy intercepted eight passes as a senior and was named MVP of the 1973 Chicago College All-Star Game. Guy was the first punter in NFL history to be drafted in the first round (23rd overall by the Oakland Raiders). While playing for the Raiders, Guy became a three-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro. In 2000, the Greater Augusta Sports Council instituted the Ray Guy Award to be given to the nation’s best collegiate punter. Guy was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Calvin Johnson

Sandy Creek High School Graduate

Nicknamed “Megatron” for his 6-foot-5, 237-pound frame and larger-than-life athleticism, Calvin Johnson was a transformative player that began his stardom at Sandy Creek High. Johnson was a three-year starter for the Patriots and became the highest-rated prospect in the state for the class of 2004. Johnson signed with Georgia Tech, where he made the case for the best player in Yellow Jackets history. Johnson was ACC Rookie of the Year, a two-time All-American and one-time ACC Player of the Year. He finished his three-year career with a school-record 2,927 receiving yards and 28 touchdown receptions. The Detroit Lions drafted Johnson with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Johnson’s impact was immediate, and he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 11,000 yards (127 games) and set numerous franchise and league records, including most seasons with 1,600 yards (two), most yards in a season (1,964 in 2012) and most 100-yard games in a season (11). Sandy Creek retired Johnson’s No. 81 on Oct. 22, 2010. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Johnson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2021.

Jim Parker

Ballard-Hudson High School Graduate

Jim Parker first played high school football at Ballard-Hudson, a Macon high school for African Americans during segregation, but played his senior season at Scott High in Toledo, Ohio. Parker was recruited to play guard at Ohio State under coaching legend Woody Hayes and his physical three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense. Parker was the perfect fit, and his success in the trenches helped Hayes achieve his first national championship in 1954. The following season, Parker helped pave the way for Heisman Trophy winner Howard Cassidy in the Buckeyes’ backfield. Parker earned a unanimous All-America selection, won the Outland Trophy and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting that season. The Baltimore Colts drafted Parker with the No. 8 overall pick in 1957. Parker was part of the Colts’ 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams and was named to eight Pro Bowl teams and nine first-team All Pro teams. In 1973, Parker became the first former Georgia high school football player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Shannon Sharpe

Glennville High School Graduate

Shannon Sharpe was a three-sport star at Glennville, a small southeast Georgia high school that closed in 1993. Sharpe was a first-team Class A end in 1985 and also excelled at basketball and track. He followed in his older brother Sterling’s footsteps by going the football route in college, signing to play tight end at Savannah State. He was a three-time Division II All-American and led his team in receptions all four years. As a senior, he caught 61 passes for 1,312 yards and 18 touchdowns to help lead the Tigers to a 10-1 finish. Sharpe did not have the typical frame for an NFL tight end, and the Broncos took him in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played wide receiver his first two pro seasons before making the move to tight end. In his new role, Sharpe earned eight Pro Bowl nods and four first-team All-Pro selections and became a three-time Super Bowl champion. Sharpe set an NFL record for most receiving yards in a game by a tight end (214) and finished with 10,060 career receiving yards. Sharp was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He is currently a TV sports analyst best known as co-host for “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” on Fox Sports.

Fran Tarkenton

Athens High School Graduate

Fran Tarkenton, the first Georgia high school graduate to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a three-sport star at Athens High School, earning all-state honors in baseball, basketball and football. As a junior, he was the quarterback on Athens High’s football team that won the Class A championship, defeating Valdosta 41-20. Tarkenton played football at Georgia as a hometown hero and was named an All-SEC freshman after leading Georgia’s Bullpups to an undefeated season. As a junior, Tarkenton earned All-SEC honors and led the Bulldogs to their first SEC title in 11 years and an Orange Bowl victory. Tarkenton led the SEC in completions and set a conference record for completion percentage. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Tarkenton with the 29th overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. Tarkenton’s pro career spanned 18 seasons as he earned nine Pro Bowl nods, three Super Bowl appearances and one league MVP award (1975). Tarkenton retired in 1978 with NFL career records in attempts, completions, yardage, touchdowns, rushing yards by a quarterback and wins by a starting quarterback. Tarkenton finished with 47,003 passing yards, 342 touchdown passes, 3,674 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.

Rayfield Wright

Fairmont High School Graduate

Rayfield Wright was a basketball star at Fairmont High in Griffin, where he was a classmate of future Olympic 100 meters champion Wyomia Tyus. Wright earned a basketball scholarship to Fort Valley State. While working in the local mill over the summer, Fort Valley State football coach Stan Lomax urged Wright to join the football team. Wright took reps as a free safety, punter, defensive end and tight end and continued blossoming into his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame throughout his collegiate career. The Dallas Cowboys picked Wright in the seventh round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft as a tight end. The Cowboys used Wright as a tight end, defensive lineman, and offensive tackle. While filling in for an injured Ralph Neely, Wright’s fate as an offensive tackle was secured as he outperformed Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. Wright earned the starting job and would hold it for the next 13 seasons, playing in 200 games and starting at right tackle in five Super Bowls, winning two of them. Wright was named to six Pro Bowls and helped pave the way for five 1,000-yard rushers in his career. Wright was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on April 7 this year at age 76.