The Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame revealed its 101-player ballot for the Class of 2026 this week and introduced the new nominees to replenish the 33 players that were inducted this past year. Founded in 2022, the Class of 2026 will be the Hall of Fame’s fifth class of inductees and the ballot that will determine the next round of inductees was recently finalized following a series of meetings where board members fielded new nominations. The 33 players selected to become inductees of the Class of 2026 will be inducted on Saturday, October 24 in downtown Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame. Among the first-time nominees are Georgia Tech’s Shawn Jones (Thomasville), Atlanta Falcons legends Terance Mathis (Redan) and Chuck Smith (Clarke Central), and University of Georgia analyst Stacy Searels (Trion). In order for a player to be eligible, they must be eight years removed from graduating high school or retired from professional football.
Tom Paris (Gainesville) and George Brodnax (Boys) were nominated to this year’s ballot in the Pre-1948 category and join former Cedartown lineman Ray Beck and Tech Atlanta standouts Bobby North, Bill Paschal and Jack Peek—who are all returning nominees. The 1948-59 era added three more potential hall of famers in North Fulton’s Wade Mitchell, Southwest DeKalb’s Harold Olson and Savannah tight end Taz Anderson. Two-time first-team All-State selection and AJC Back of the Year Dicky Thompson (Thomasville) along with two-time AJC Lineman of the Year Randall Edmunds (Lincolnton) are new nominees in the 1960’s era that round up an 11-player group.
The 1970’s have seven first-time nominees, including former Pepperell quarterback Phil Baker—a 1970 graduate that set a state record for career passing yards with 5,449 yards. There are 10 new nominees in the 1980’s—the most of any of the eras. In addition to Mathis, Clarke Central standout Chuck Smith is another former Atlanta Falcon that was a standout high school player in the 1980’s. Deion Branch (Monroe), Jermey Muyres (Parkview), Daryl Smith (Dougherty) and Derrick Steagall (Newnan) are new to the 1990’s joining the likes of Cosey Coleman (Southwest DeKalb), Dexter Daniels (Valdosta), Rodney Hudson (LaGrange), Patrick Pass (Tucker), Jasper Sanks (Carver-Columbus), Clay Shiver (Tift County) and Travis Stroud (Dunwoody). Both Hudson and Pass were nearly voted into the Class of 2025. In the most recent era of the state’s biggest stars, Washington County quarterback AJ Gray, Cedar Grove defensive lineman Marcus McNeill, Gainesville wide receiver TJ Jones and Laney linebacker JK Sabb are new 2000-present additions.
2026 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME BALLOT
FIRST-TIME NOMINEES
PRE-1948 (2)
*Tom Paris, QB, Gainesville, 1925
*George Brodnax, E, Boys, 1944
1948-59 (3)
*Wade Mitchell, QB/S, North Fulton, 1952
Harold Olson, OL, Southwest DeKalb, 1955
*Taz Anderson, TE, Savannah, 1955
1960’s (2)
*Dicky Thompson, RB, Thomasville, 1963
Randall Edmunds, L, Lincolnton, 1963
GIA (1948-69) (2)
William Tillman, RB, Lemon Street, 1966
*Harold McLinton, LB, Harper, 1964
1970’s (7)
*Drew Hill, WR, Newnan, 1974
Carlton Williamson, QB/RB, Brown, 1976
Stump Mitchell, RB, Camden County, 1976
Jimmy Robinson, WR, Ridgeview, 1970
Phil Baker, QB, Pepperell, 1970
Gerald Harp, RB, Lakeshore, 1976
Michael Jolly, QB, Central-Macon, 1975
1980’s (10)
Alvin Toles, LB, Mary Persons, 1980
Mo Lewis, LB/DL, Murphy, 1986
Terance Mathis, QB, Redan, 1984
Nate Odomes, QB, Carver-Columbus, 1982
Eric Curry, DL, Thomasville, 1987
Steve Davenport, WR, Southwest DeKalb, 1984
Shawn Jones, QB, Thomasville, 1987
Walt Crowder, RB, Central-Carrollton, 1988
Stacy Searles, OL, Trion, 1982
Chuck Smith, DE/LB, Clarke Central, 1987
1990’s (4)
Deion Branch, WR, Monroe, 1996
Jeremy Muyers, DB/WR, Parkview, 1998
Daryl Smith, LB, Dougherty, 1999
Derrick Steagall, QB, Newnan, 1992
2000’s-Present (4)
AJ Gray, QB/S, Washington County, 2014
Marcus McNeill, DL, Cedar Grove, 2001
TJ Jones, WR, Gainesville, 2009
JK Sabb, LB, Laney, 2002
RETURNING NOMINEES
PRE-1948 (4)
*Ray Beck, L, Cedartown, 1947
*Bobby North, B, Tech (Atlanta), 1946
*Bill Paschal, HB, Tech (Atlanta), 1939
*Jack Peek, B, Tech (Atlanta), 1945
1948-59 (7)
*Phil Ashe, L, Stone Mountain, 1956
*Jimmy Barefield, RB, Waynesboro, 1955
*John Carson, E, Roosevelt, 1948
*Pete Case, L, Decatur, 1957
*Max Mason, B, Rockmart, 1950
*Johnny Menger, HB, Richmond Academy, 1952
*Ken Rice, L, Bainbridge, 1956
1960’s (9)
Billy Brice, WR, Avondale, 1966
Dennis Chadwick, QB/RB, Decatur, 1967
Brent Cunningham, RB, Putnam County, 1967
*Marvin Hurst, RB, Waycross, 1961
*Isaac Jackson, RB, Lanier-Macon, 1969
Doyle Orange, RB, Waycross, 1969
Bobby Scott, QB, Rossville, 1966
*Giles Smith, RB, Valdosta, 1962
Walt Sumner, QB, Irwin County, 1964
GIA (1948-69) (6)
*Milton Byard, B, Risley (Brunswick), 1950
*Henry Childs, L, Douglass-Thomasville, 1969
Wallace Davis, G/LB, Spencer, 1962
Ken Ellis, DB, Bunche (Camden County), 1965
*John Henry Jackson, QB, Spencer, 1957
*Willie Williams, WR/DB, Archer, 1960
1970’s (11)
Gordon Beckham Jr., QB, Westminster, 1978
Jim Bob Harris, QB, Clarke Central, 1977
Joey Browner, DB, Southwest Atlanta, 1978
Mack Guest, L, Central-Macon, 1974
Ed Guthrie, RB, Wheeler, 1975
*Keith Harris, LB/RB, Woodward Academy, 1970
Runt Moon, RB, Commerce, 1973
*Lee North, L, Shamrock, 1977
Robert Shaw, OL, Wheeler, 1974
Ben Utt, L, Vidalia, 1976
Ricky Williams, RB, Griffin, 1978
1980’s (9)
Terry Allen, RB, Banks County, 1985
Curt Douglas, LB, Lincoln County, 1987
Henry Harris, DL, Columbia, 1982
James Jackson, QB, Mitchell-Baker, 1983
John Johnson, DL, LaGrange, 1986
Cedric Jones, RB, Lowndes, 1980
Ben Logue, RB, North Springs, 1981
*David McCluskey, RB, West Rome, 1982
*Vince Sutton, QB, LaGrange, 1983
1990’s (7)
Cosey Coleman, OL, Southwest DeKalb, 1995
Dexter Daniels, LB, Valdosta, 1991
Rodney Hudson, QB, LaGrange, 1992
Patrick Pass, RB, Tucker, 1995
Jasper Sanks, RB, Carver-Columbus, 1996
Clay Shiver, OL, Tift County, 1990
Travis Stroud, DL, Dunwoody, 1993
2000-Present (14)
Jermaine Cunningham, DL, Stephenson, 2005
Jonathan Davis, RB/LB, Tucker, 2008
Kedric Golston, DL, Sandy Creek, 2001
Mitch Hyatt, OL, North Gwinnett, 2014
Abry Jones, DL, Northside-Warner Robins, 2008
Reshad Jones, DB, Washington, 2005
Tavarres King, WR, Habersham Central, 2007
Sam Olajubutu, LB, LaGrange, 2001
Duke Robinson, OL, Washington, 2004
Chris Scott, OL, Lovejoy, 2004
Blake Sims, QB, Gainesville, 2009
Chansi Stuckey, QB, Northside-Warner Robins, 2001
Daccus Turman, RB, Washington-Wilkes, 2000
Wesley Woodyard, LB, LaGrange, 2003
*deceased