It was a night of celebration in New York City Tuesday night as the National Football Foundation inducted the Class of 2018 into the College Football Hall of Fame. While, the ten players and three coaches were inducted based on their college football contributions, I thought it would be fun to look at what the honorees did in high school, because that’s what we do at High School Football America.
College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018
TREVOR COBB – RB, Rice (1989-92)
Dobie High School – Houston, Texas
Cobb, who was listed as an under-sized 5-9, 180 pound freshman at Rice, played at Dobie High School in the Houston in the Pasadena Independent School District. Cobb’s high school career was highlighted by the fact that he was just as good catching the ball as he was running it in the Longhorns run-heavy offensive attack. He was named Honorable Mention running back on the 1988 Class 5A All-State team and was District 24-5A Most Valuable Player as a junior.
KERRY COLLINS – QB, Penn State (1991-94)
Wilson High School – West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Collins was a three-sport athlete at Wilson High after transferring from Lebanon High in the middle of his sophomore year. In his senior season in 1989, Collins led his team to a 14-1 record that included a runner-up finish in the state with a 12-7 loss to Upper St. Clair in the state championship game. As a senior he threw for 2,043 yards and 17 touchdowns.
DAVE DICKENSON – QB, Montana (1992-95)
C.M. Russell High School – Great Falls, Montana
Dickenson, who has won a NCAA Division I-AA championship and a Canadian Football League championship as a player and a coach, was a 2-time state champ in football. He was 23-0 as the school’s starting quarterback. Dickenson’s No. 15 was retired by his high school.
DANA HOWARD – LB, Illinois (1991-94)
East St. Louis High School – East St. Louis, Illinois
Howard had tremendous success in high school, leading powerful East St. Louis High School to a state championship as a two-way starter at linebacker and tight end. Surprisingly, Howard was first cut by his Junior High coach before finishing his high school career as a Parade All-America honoree.
CALVIN JOHNSON – WR, Georgia Tech (2004-06)
Sandy Creek High School – Tyrone, Georgia
Like Dickenson, Johnson’s No. 81 was retired by his high school in 2010. During in his senior season, Johnson was considered one of the top receivers and players in the nation. He was also an excellent shortstop in baseball, who could have been taken in Major League Baseball’s Amateur Draft.
PAUL PALMER – RB, Temple (1983-86)
Churchill High School – Potomac, Maryland
Palmer led his high school to the 1982 Maryland high school state championship game with a 168 yard three touchdown performance in the state semifinals. He finished his senior season with 20 touchdowns.
ED REED – DB, Miami [Fla.] (1998-2001)
Destrehan High School – Destrehan, Louisiana
A three-sport athlete at Destrehan where he was an all-state defensive back as a senior. Reed had totaled 83 tackles this season along with seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and twelve passes deflected, while returning three punts for touchdowns.
MATT STINCHCOMB – OT, Georgia (1995-98)
Parkview High School – Lilburn, Georgia
Stinchcomb was one of the top linemen in the state during his senior season. Parkview won eight games during each of his three years with the Panthers. Parkview was 24-9 with Stinchcomb on the offensive line.
AARON TAYLOR – C/OG, Nebraska (1994-97)
Rider High School – Wichita Falls, Texas
With his father in the Air Force, Taylor spent most of his youth playing soccer overseas. He did play football until his freshman year at Rider.
CHARLES WOODSON – DB, Michigan (1995-97)
Ross High School – Fremont, Ohio
Woodson was named Ohio’s “Mr. Football” after his senior season. Michigan recruited Woodson even though he rushed for 2,038 and scored 230 points during his senior season.
Coaches
Frank Beamer
Hillsville High School – Hillsville, Virginia
Beamer was a three-sport athlete at Hillsville, playing football, basketball and baseball. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Radford High School in Virginia in 1969.
Mack Brown
Putnam County High School – Cookeville, Tennessee
Brown was Tennessee’s Midstate Player of the Year in 1969.
Mel Tjeerdsma
Springfield High School – South Dakota
Tjeerdsma coached at Sioux Center High School in Iowa to the very first Class 2A State football championship in 1972.
