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Nominees for Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame class include these Augusta-area stars

will cheney, augusta chronicle
·4 min read
Former Auburn coach Pat Dye watches with Auburn's mascot a video tribute to his career before the start of the Iron Bowl against Alabama, Saturday Nov. 19, 2005 in Auburn, Ala. The school re-named the playing field after him.
Former Auburn coach Pat Dye watches with Auburn's mascot a video tribute to his career before the start of the Iron Bowl against Alabama, Saturday Nov. 19, 2005 in Auburn, Ala. The school re-named the playing field after him.

The first wave of nominees for the inaugural Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame class was announced last week.

The list featured some of the biggest names from across the state, including 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and NFL stars Hines Ward and Jeff Saturday. Also featured were a handful of former players from in and around the Augusta area.

Here are the four familiar faces on the early list of nominees:

Pat Dye

Probably the most prominent player to play for ARC during the Frank Inman era was Pat Dye. Dye was a captain on the 1956 state championship team and played collegiately at Georgia before beginning his coaching career. He died this year at the age of 80.
Probably the most prominent player to play for ARC during the Frank Inman era was Pat Dye. Dye was a captain on the 1956 state championship team and played collegiately at Georgia before beginning his coaching career. He died this year at the age of 80.

High school: Richmond Academy (class of 1957)

An offensive lineman, Dye made a name for himself at a young age as a captain on Frank Inman's 1956 Richmond Academy state championship team. He went on to have a stellar playing career at Georgia before leading Auburn's football program as the head coach and athletic director from 1981-92. He led the Tigers to four Southeastern Conference titles and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

More: Augusta, Auburn legend Pat Dye left far-reaching legacy

Emerson Boozer

Laney alumnus Emerson Boozer was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame. Here he is playing with the New York Jets in 1973.
Laney alumnus Emerson Boozer was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame. Here he is playing with the New York Jets in 1973.

High school: Laney (class of 1962)

Boozer graduated from Laney and attended University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he was a two-time All-American before the New York Jets drafted him in the seventh round of the 1966 AFL Draft. He played 10 seasons in the AFL and NFL and was a key cog in the Jets' Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts. Boozer is a member of the Jets' Ring of Honor and the College Football Hall of Fame.

More: Exploring 90 years of Richmond Academy Stadium, Augusta’s cherished football venue

Takeo Spikes

Washington County's Takeo Spikes was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.
Washington County's Takeo Spikes was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.

High school: Washington County (class of 1995)

Spikes dominated both sides of the ball at Washington County as a linebacker and tight end, earning prep All-American honors and Georgia High School Player of the Year before attending Auburn on a football scholarship. He played for the Tigers until the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1998, where he went on to play 14 seasons. Spikes earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2003 and 2004.

Garrison Hearst

Lincoln County's Garrison Hearst was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.
Lincoln County's Garrison Hearst was named as an early nominee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.

High school: Lincoln County (class of 1990)

Hearst starred at Lincoln County before signing with Georgia, where he played three seasons as the second-most productive back in school history at the time. When he left for the NFL in 1993, Hearst trailed only Herschel Walker in career rushing yards, all-purpose yards and games with 100-plus rushing yards. He was named the 1992 SEC Player of the Year and the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the third overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Hearst earned two Pro Bowl selections over 10 NFL seasons.

The induction is set to take place in October at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The initial list of nominees was 32 former players, but the total list is expected to be around 100. That said, who else from the CSRA deserves major consideration? Well for starters, a few names come to mind:

Deon Grant (Josey, 1997)

Grant is a no-brainer, here. He won a GHSA state championship with Josey in 1995, college football national championship with Tennessee and Super Bowl XLVI as a member of the New York Giants. He's also a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Ray Guy (Thomson, 1969)

Another slam dunk, Guy helped lead Thomson to a pair of state championships before attending the University of Southern Mississippi. The punter went on to be selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1973 and helped lead the Silver and Black to three Super Bowl titles. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Carlos Rogers (Butler, 2001)

A three-sport star, Rogers earned All-American honors at Butler before attending Auburn on a football scholarship. He helped lead the Tigers to an undefeated record (13-0) as a senior and was named an All-American and the Jim Thorpe Award winner. Washington selected Rogers with the ninth-overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played 10 NFL seasons, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2011 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame features Augusta players