Best player and best player most won’t know from your high school

[1OldPatriot]

Jefferson Co

Best Player - Todd Collins (TE-LB) High School All American and USA Today Defensive Player of the year,  collegiate All American. Played in the NFL for the Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the Rams

Best player most have never heard of - Joe West (RB- OLB). All State as a JR at OLB. His SR year against Oak Ridge (1st game of the year) he had 187 yds on 7 carries with 2 TDs. Tore his ACL and was out the rest of the year. Went on to play at Carson Newman. Now is police chief in Jefferson City

Edited December 15, 2022 by 1OldPatriot

[WillieTheWildcats]

The Oak Ridge Wildcats...

BEST PLAYER

Tee Higgins : High School All American and Mr. Football at Oak Ridge. Nominated for Mr. Basketball. Played in two NCAA National Championship games at Clemson winning one. Tied for most TDs in a career at Clemson. Currently starting WR for the defending AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals. Caught two touchdowns in the 2022 Super Bowl.  Known for his outstanding character and charity work. Just yesterday, representd Old Spice on a visit to a local Cincinnati area high school promoting mentoring of high school students in need of role models. 

Higgins is my favorite athlete of all time just nudging out Willie Mayes. Tee is the father of two dogs. enjoys video games, fast cars and loves his family especially Mama Higgins. I am a member of the THFFL Club ( Tee Higgins Fans For Life ).

Best Player Not Known by Current Fans...

Jackie Pope : Did it all for Oak Ridge back in the late 1950's. High School All American and stand out college player. Captain of the 1958 National Championship team at Oak Ridge. Average an incredible 17 plus yards a carry. I don't care when you played if you can do that you are a GOAT.

*Mr. Pope's has many more accomplishments but I am not qualified to mention them all. He was before my time but others can and should add on here more of his athletic feats of greatness. If Jackie had played in today's era he would certainly be as famous as Higgins.

Edited December 15, 2022 by WillieTheWildcats

[WillieTheWildcats]

6 hours ago, 1OldPatriot said:

Jefferson Co

Best Player - Todd Collins (TE-LB) High School All American and USA Today Defensive Player of the year,  collegiate All American. Played in the NFL for the Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the Rams

Best player most have never heard of - Joe West (RB- OLB). All State as a JR at OLB. His SR year against Oak Ridge (1st game of the year) he had 187 yds on 7 carries with 2 TDs. Tore his ACL and was out the rest of the year. Went on to play at Carson Newman. Now is police chief in Jefferson City

Saw both play and they were both remarkable athletes.

[1OldPatriot]

5 hours ago, WillieTheWildcats said:

Saw both play and they were both remarkable athletes.

I agree. Joe may have been the best athlete to ever play at Jeff. I hated what happened to him

[CommandoBlood100]

Hendersonville High School

Best player is Dewayne Dotson- All state Linebacker and Running Back that Graduated in 1989 and played at the University of Tennessee for 2 years then transferred to Ole Miss for 3 seasons. Was selected to All SEC team and was a Butkus Award semifinalist. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and later played for the Miami Dolphins.

 

most won’t know-

James Wilhoit- All American kicker that graduated in 2002. 4 year starter at the University of Tennessee.  Known for the 50 yard game winner against Florida in 2004. Had a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens and is now the kicking coach for the Tennessee Titans.

 

[runninblind]

16 hours ago, 1OldPatriot said:

Jefferson Co

Best Player - Todd Collins (TE-LB) High School All American and USA Today Defensive Player of the year,  collegiate All American. Played in the NFL for the Patriots and won a Super Bowl with the Rams

Best player most have never heard of - Joe West (RB- OLB). All State as a JR at OLB. His SR year against Oak Ridge (1st game of the year) he had 187 yds on 7 carries with 2 TDs. Tore his ACL and was out the rest of the year. Went on to play at Carson Newman. Now is police chief in Jefferson City

Remember Todd Collins watched him play in  the 1989 State championship ! He was a beast ! 

[noonesfool]

19 hours ago, WillieTheWildcats said:

The Oak Ridge Wildcats...

BEST PLAYER

Tee Higgins : High School All American and Mr. Football at Oak Ridge. Nominated for Mr. Basketball. Played in two NCAA National Championship games at Clemson winning one. Tied for most TDs in a career at Clemson. Currently starting WR for the defending AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals. Caught two touchdowns in the 2022 Super Bowl.  Known for his outstanding character and charity work. Just yesterday, representd Old Spice on a visit to a local Cincinnati area high school promoting mentoring of high school students in need of role models. 

Higgins is my favorite athlete of all time just nudging out Willie Mayes. Tee is the father of two dogs. enjoys video games, fast cars and loves his family especially Mama Higgins. I am a member of the THFFL Club ( Tee Higgins Fans For Life ).

Best Player Not Known by Current Fans...

Jackie Pope : Did it all for Oak Ridge back in the late 1950's. High School All American and stand out college player. Captain of the 1958 National Championship team at Oak Ridge. Average an incredible 17 plus yards a carry. I don't care when you played if you can do that you are a GOAT.

*Mr. Pope's has many more accomplishments but I am not qualified to mention them all. He was before my time but others can and should add on here more of his athletic feats of greatness. If Jackie had played in today's era he would certainly be as famous as Higgins.

Thank you for the lesson on Mr. Pope. I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread immensely.

[GWAVE1]

19 hours ago, CommandoBlood100 said:

Hendersonville High School

Best player is Dewayne Dotson- All state Linebacker and Running Back that Graduated in 1989 and played at the University of Tennessee for 2 years then transferred to Ole Miss for 3 seasons. Was selected to All SEC team and was a Butkus Award semifinalist. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and later played for the Miami Dolphins.

 

most won’t know-

James Wilhoit- All American kicker that graduated in 2002. 4 year starter at the University of Tennessee.  Known for the 50 yard game winner against Florida in 2004. Had a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens and is now the kicking coach for the Tennessee Titans.

 

Tommy Stamps not on the list? 

[Swipes]

Greeneville High School

Best player is Dustin Moore.  1993 Mr. Football in AAA 6'3 225lb Running back that ran a 4.4 rushed for 2,129 Yards his Senior Season on 212 carries for a 10 yard per carry avg. and 32 TD's on the year.  When on to start TE for UT and Phillip Former is quotes as saying his was in the top 10 Athletes he ever recruited.

 

Most Won't Know

Leonard Coffman played for Greeneville until 1935 as a FB.  Enrolled at UT in 1936 and was the started FB for General Neyland  in 1938 and 1939 winning a national title in 1938.  He was credited as being the first player used for the goal-line dive play, where a back catapults himself over a pile of linemen. Started on D those years also and gave up no points in the regular season in 1939. His teammates  were quoted as saying John Bailey: "Coffman was the meanest, toughest football player Tennessee has ever had." George Cafego: "When you saw the back of Coffman's neck turning red, you got out of his way."  He entered the Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain. In 1951 Coffman was recalled to service during the Korean War, where he served in Wyoming for five years. He was head coaching  at Greeneville High School during 1955-1959.  He stayed on staff as a teacher at the School until he retired in 1980 to raise Beef Cattle in Greeneville.  Coffman is part of the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame, National Football Hall of Fame, and TSSAA Hall of Fame.  Coffman was the last surviving member of the 1939 team and passed away at 92 in 2007

Edited December 16, 2022 by Swipes

[noonesfool]

1 hour ago, Swipes said:

Greeneville High School

Best player is Dustin Moore.  1993 Mr. Football in AAA 6'3 225lb Running back that ran a 4.4 rushed for 2,129 Yards his Senior Season on 212 carries for a 10 yard per carry avg. and 32 TD's on the year.  When on to start TE for UT and Phillip Former is quotes as saying his was in the top 10 Athletes he ever recruited.

 

Most Won't Know

Leonard Coffman played for Greeneville until 1935 as a FB.  Enrolled at UT in 1936 and was the started FB for General Neyland  in 1938 and 1939 winning a national title in 1938.  He was credited as being the first player used for the goal-line dive play, where a back catapults himself over a pile of linemen. Started on D those years also and gave up no points in the regular season in 1939. His teammates  were quoted as saying John Bailey: "Coffman was the meanest, toughest football player Tennessee has ever had." George Cafego: "When you saw the back of Coffman's neck turning red, you got out of his way."  He entered the Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain. In 1951 Coffman was recalled to service during the Korean War, where he served in Wyoming for five years. He was head coaching  at Greeneville High School during 1955-1959.  He stayed on staff as a teacher at the School until he retired in 1980 to raise Beef Cattle in Greeneville.  Coffman is part of the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame, National Football Hall of Fame, and TSSAA Hall of Fame.  Coffman was the last surviving member of the 1939 team and passed away at 92 in 2007

I was getting prepared To State those 2 in that order. Dustin was also the 200 state meter champion.

[WillieTheWildcats]

On 12/15/2022 at 10:38 PM, noonesfool said:

Thank you for the lesson on Mr. Pope. I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread immensely.

BUMP...this topic deserves more attention. Reading about GOATS from other schools is interesting.

Edited December 18, 2022 by WillieTheWildcats

[noonesfool]

1 hour ago, WillieTheWildcats said:

BUMP...this topic deserves more attention. Reading about GOATS from other schools is interesting.

Good call Willie!

representing Science Hill HS, the school I matriculated from. Uhhh let me think….. Steve Spurrier. All state and all American High School QB. All American and Heisman winner at Florida. 8 years NFL and you all know his coaching history.

best not so known. Van Williams all state RB, a walking quick flex chunk of muscle. ETSU, personal issues, transferred to Carson Newman part of couple National Championships as the RB. Drafted and played for the Buffalo Bills. Very impressive but personal issues got him dismissed from the NFL.

Edited December 18, 2022 by noonesfool