Pennsylvania high school football leads the way in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. Two former Keystone Staters — Joe Klecko (St. James HS) and Darrelle Revis (Aliquippa HS) will be inducted into Canton, Ohio in August. They other states represented in the Class of ’23 are: Alabama, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Aliquippa alum Darrelle Revis becomes the third former Quip to make it into Canton. He’s join by Mike Ditka and Ty Law.
Below is a look at where every inductee played high school football.
Ronde Barber, DB – Cave Spring (Virginia)
Pro Career – Defensive Back — 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barber was a three-sport athlete at Cave Spring. In addition to football, he wrestled and was a part of the track team. During his junior year, Barber made Virginia AAA All-State Team. If you look at the clipping below, you’ll notice Barber was joined on the team by Allen Iverson, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
While his senior football season was cut short by a broken clavicle, he finished his scholastic career by becoming a state and national track champ in the 55-meter hurdles.
Don Coryell – Lincoln HS (Washington)
Pro Coaching Career – 1973-1977 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Coryell was a quarterback and tennis player at Lincoln High. From the Seattle Star clip below you can see that Coryell loved the game.
He was named honorable mention All-City during his time at the Seattle school.
Coryell’s second coaching job was at Punahou in Hawaii. He was an assistant there in 1951, before becoming the head coach at Farrington High School for one year in 1952.
Chuck Howley – Warwood HS (West Virginia)
Pro Career – Linebacker — 1958-1959 Chicago Bears, 1960-1973 Dallas Cowboys
Howley was a three-sport athlete (basketball, football, track) at Warwood High (Class of 1954). He was an all-state football player after transferring from Wheeling Central to Warwood.
During his time at West Virginia University, he lettered in five different sports — track, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling and football.
Joe Klecko – St. James HS (Pennsylvania)
Pro Career – Defensive End & Tackle — 1977-1987 New York Jets, 1988 Indianapolis Colts
Klecko was cut as a high school freshman and never returned to the field until his senior season at St. James in Chester, Pennsylvania. According to the Delaware County Daily Times was a “bench-warmer” for the first games of his high school career.
He was named honorable mention on the All-Delco (Delaware County) Team.
Darrelle Revis – Aliquippa HS (Pennsylvania)
Pro Career – Cornerback — 2007-2012/2015-16 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
Revis closed-out his scholastic career with an incredible performance in the Pennsylvania AA championship game. He led Aliquippa to a come-from-behind 32-27 win in the title game.
Revis scored all five touchdowns, including the game-winning 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. In all, he scored three touchdowns on the ground, plus had a kickoff return and he returned a block field goal attempt for a score.
Revis was also unstoppable on the basketball court, averaging 25.2 points a game during his senior season.
Ken Riley – Union Academy (Florida)
Pro Career – Cornerback — 1969-1983 Cincinnati Bengals
Riley played defensive back and quarterback for legendary high school coach Chaude Woodruff. The Union Academy football program in Bartow, Florida produced seven NFL players before it closed in 1969.
Riley was a captain of the school’s football, basketball and track teams, plus he was class president during his senior season.
Aside from Riley here are the other NFL players from Union Academy: guard Jim Battle, defensive back Nate James, defensive back Al Lavan, defensive tackle Sam Silas wide receiver Jerry Simmons and guard Don Smith
Joe Thomas – Brookfield Central HS (Wisconsin)
Pro Career – Tackle — 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
During his high school days, Thomas played many positions aside from offense tackle. On offense, he was a tight end and fullback, at different points in his career. On defense, he was a standout defensive end, who won the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association’s Defensive Player of the Year after his senior season. He recorded 12 sacks in his final high school season.
Considered the No. 3 prospect in Wisconsin, Thomas played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Thomas was a four-year letterwinner in track & field in the shot put and discus.
Zach Thomas – Pampa HS (Texas)
Pro Career – Linebacker — 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
Zach and his brother Bart led White Deer High School to a 1A state title in 1998 before transferring to Pampa.
Thomas closed-out his high school career as a two-time All-State linebacker. During his senior season, he ran for 928 yards with eight touchdowns. He recorded 158 tackles (59 solo) with six sacks, five forced fumbles, three recoveries and eight deflected passes.
DeMarcus Ware – Auburn HS (Alabama)
Pro Career – Linebacker — 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-2016 Denver Broncos
At Auburn High School, Ware was a linebacker and wide receiver. He was named the Tigers Most Outstanding Player at both positions.
On defense, he racked-up 40 solo tackles with seven sacks.
