By Hannah Vanbiber
Over the last five decades, the Chattanooga area has been home to exceptional high school football athletes. Men and women have fond memories of great rivalries, unforgettable games and their favorite high school football standouts. Many extraordinary high school football players had their careers cut short. But what may surprise many is that over the last 52 years, several of the area’s greatest players went on to successful college and professional football careers. With assistance from a select group of local high school football historians and hometown high school football experts, what follows are 25 football greats who played for area high schools and went on to excel for college teams and play professional football.
1. Reggie White
6’5”—291 lbs.
Defensive End
High School:
Howard High School (‘80)
College: University of Tennessee (2 time All-American)
Professional:
15 years NFL
Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers
Honors/Awards:
Super Bowl Champion XXXI
13-time Pro Bowl Selection
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Dubbed the “Minister of Defense” by his college teammates and voted regularly in the top ten NFL players of all time, Reggie White journeyed from the halls of Howard High School all the way to a Super Bowl title and two Hall of Fame inductions.
White was born in Chattanooga in 1961 to Thelma Collier. At age twelve, he announced to his mother that he wanted to be two things in life: a football player and a minister. He was ordained as a minister at age 17 and earned All-American honors in football at Howard before being recruited to the Tennessee Volunteers in 1980. While at the University of Tennessee, White was named All-American, setting school records for most sacks in a college career, season, and game. He won SEC Player of the Year his senior year. He played in the USFL for two seasons before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, accumulating 124 sacks over eight seasons. He was voted by ESPN SportsNation in 2008 as the greatest player in Eagle’s history.
In 1993 White signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he revitalized the franchise, and became, at the time, the Packers’ all-time leader in sacks. The Packers defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, where White made a record three sacks on the quarterback. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, 1991 and 1998.
Tragically, White died in December of 2004 at age 43 of causes related to a respiratory disease and possible sleep apnea. He left behind his wife, Sara, and two children. Though he had the stature and skill to intimidate opponents, those who knew him remember him as a man of character, gentleness, and honor.
2. John Hannah
6’2”—265 lbs.
Offensive Guard
High School:
Baylor School (‘69)
College:
University of Alabama
(2 Time All-American)
Professional:
12 years NFL
New England Patriots
Honors/Awards:
9-time Pro Bowl Selection
Super Bowl XX
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
John Allen “Hawg” Hannah is widely regarded as one of the greatest linemen in college and NFL history. Hannah played tackle and guard for Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama and left guard for the Patriots. Sports Illustrated dubbed him “The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time” on its August 3, 1981, cover.
Hannah grew up in Albertville, Alabama, but attended Baylor School in Chattanooga, where he became a Midsouth champion football player. After being recruited to Alabama under Bear Bryant, he earned All-American honors twice and helped Alabama to an SEC Championship.
Upon graduation, Hannah was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the New England Patriots, where he played all 12 years of his NFL career. Hannah
pounded his way to national acclaim as the mainstay of the Patriots’ offensive line. He was named All-Pro 10 times and All-AFC 11 times and selected to play in nine Pro Bowls. Recognized for his deep commitment and high expectations, Hannah missed only five games during his career. He earned Offensive Lineman of the Year honors for four straight years (1978-81), and in 1985, Hannah played in Super Bowl XX, though the Patriots lost. In 1991, he became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of
Fame.
Hannah retired from professional football in 1985 and currently runs a leadership training system. His family includes his wife, Page, whom he calls the “true Hall of Famer,” and two children.
3. Bob Johnson
6’5” – 262 lbs – Offensive Lineman
High School: Bradley County High School (‘67)
College: Tennessee (2 Time All-American)
Professional: 12 years NFL
•Cincinnati Bengals
•3-Time ProBowl Selection
•College Football Hall of Fame
•AFL All-Star in 1968
4. Charles Hannah
6’5” – 260 lbs – Offensive Lineman
High School: Baylor School (‘73)
College: Alabama (All-American)
Professional: 12 years NFL
•Tampa Bay Buccaneers
•LA Raiders
•Super Bowl Champion XVIII
5. Bobby scott
6’2” – 201 lbs – Quarterback
High School: Rossville High School (‘67)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 14 years (12 NFL) (2 USFL)
•New Orleans Saints
•New Jersey Generals
•Chicago Blitz
6. Andy Kelly
6’3” – 230 lbs – Quarterback
High School: Rhea County High School (‘86)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 15 years Arena Football League
•Charlotte Rage
•Rhein Fire
•Nashville Kats
•Dallas Desperados
•Detroit Fury
•New Orleans VooDoo
•Kansas City Brigade
•Utah Blaze
Threw for a total of 61,420 yards over the course of his football career.
7. Eddie Brown
5’11” – 187 lbs – Defensive Back
High School: Marion County High School (‘70)
College: Tennessee (All-American)
Professional: 6 years NFL / 2 Years USFL
•Cleveland Browns
•Washington Redskins
•LA Rams
•Chicago Blitz
•Arizona Wranglers
•2x Pro Bowl Member
8. Mike Jones
5’11” – 182 lbs – Wide Receiver
High School: Riverside High School (‘78)
College: Tennessee State
Professional: 7 years NFL
•Minnesota Vikings
•New Orleans Saints
•Kansas City Chiefs
•New England Patriots
9. Terdell Sands
6’8” – 340 lbs – Defensive Lineman
High School: Howard High School (‘97)
College: UTC
Professional: 9 years NFL
•Kansas City Chiefs
•Green Bay Packers
•Oakland Raiders
•New England Patriots
10. Eric Westmoreland
6’0” – 233 lbs – Linebacker
High School: Marion County High School (‘96)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 5 years NFL
•Jacksonville Jaguars
•Cleveland Browns
11. Donnie Elder
5’11” – 180lbs – Defensive Back
High School: Brainerd High School (‘81)
College: University of Memphis
Professional: 8 years NFL
•New York Jets
•Pittsburg Steelers
•Detroit Lions
•Tampa Bay Bucs
•San Diego Chargers
12. David Roller
6’2” – 270lbs – Defensive Tackle
High School: Rhea County High School (‘67)
College: Kentucky
Professional: 7 years NFL/ 2 years CFL / 1 year WFL
•New York Giants
•Green Bay Packers
•Minnesota Vikings
•Hamilton Tiger Cats
•Southern California Sun
13. David Douglas
6’4” – 285 lbs – Offensive Lineman
High School: Rhea County High School (‘81)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 5 years NFL
•Cincinnati Bengals
•New England Patriots
14. Adarius Bowman
6’3” – 233lbs – Wide Receiver
High School: Notre Dame High School (‘03)
College: Oklahoma State
Professional: 3 years CFL (currently playing)
•Edmonton Eskimos
•Winnipeg Blue Bombers
15. Josh Bullocks
6’0” – 207lbs – Defensive Back
High School: Hixson High School (‘01)
College: Nebraska
Professional: 6 years NFL
•New Orleans Saints
•Chicago Bears
16. Tom Mullady
6’3” – 232 lbs – Tight End
High School: McCallie School (‘75)
College: Rhodes (formerly Southwestern at Memphis)
Professional: 6 years NFL
•New York Giants
17. Ed Smith
6’1” – 220lbs – Linebacker
High School: McCallie School (‘75)
College: Vanderbilt
Professional: 2 years NFL / 2 years USFL
•Baltimore Colts
•Arizona Wranglers
18. Steve Sloan
6’0” – 185lbs – Quarterback
High School: Bradley County High School (‘61)
College: Alabama
Professional: 2 years NFL
•Atlanta Falcons
19. Reggie Mathis
6’2” – 220lbs – Linebacker
High School: Notre Dame High School (‘74)
College: Oklahoma
Professional: 2 years NFL
•New Orleans Saints
20. Eddie Moore
6’1” – 235lbs – Linebacker
High School: South Pittsburg High School (‘99)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 3 years NFL
•Miami Dolphins
Current Occupation:
AVP at First Volunteer Bank
21. Daniel Bullocks
6’0” – 210lbs – Safety
High School: Hixson High School (‘01)
College: Nebraska
Professional: 2 years NFL
•Detroit Lions
22. Edwin Lovelady
5’9” – 180lbs – Wide Receiver
High School: Brainerd High School (‘81)
College: Memphis
Professional: 1 year NFL
•New York Giants
23. Gary Tucker
5’11” – 205lbs – Running Back
High School: Brainerd High School (‘63)
College: UTC (formerly UC)
Professional: 1 year NFL
•Miami Dolphins
24. B.J. Coleman
6’3” – 233lbs – Quarterback
High School: McCallie School (‘07)
College: UTC
Professional: Drafted NFL
•Green Bay Packers
25. Cotton Letner
6’1” – 215lbs – Linebacker
High School: Meigs County High School
(‘57 Valedictorian)
College: Tennessee
Professional: 1 year NFL
•Buffalo Bills