4C
THE TELEGRAPH
macon.com
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Coming up in The Numbers Game The Numbers Game continues throughout the summer: July 15: The 50s July 22: The 40s July 29: The 30s Aug. 5: The 20s Aug. 12: The 10s Aug. 19: Single digits
online Telegraph File Photo
Stratford’s Le Kevin Smith followed up a strong high school career by playing a leading role on Nebraska’s “Blackshirt” defense and a professional career that included time with New England and Denver.
NUMBERS from 3C honorable mention All-America honors in 2007. Brown is now an assistant coach at Mercer. Why we picked him: Brown was the captain on the Demons’ 2004 team that went 14-0-1 and ended a 16-year championship drought for Warner Robins. Others to consider Dion Armstrong, Peach County, football: A three-year high school starter, Armstrong helped the Trojans win state titles in 2005 and 2006 before signing with Maryland. Greg Crabb, Dublin, football: Crabb made an all-state team at Dublin before lettering for three years at South Carolina. Haywood Simmons, Southwest, football: Simmons went from Southwest to lettering two years and winning the 1994 Rose Bowl at Wisconsin.
Le Kevin Smith, Stratford, football Bio: Smith’s dominant high school career was highlighted by being named the USA Today Georgia Player of the Year in 2000. He was The Telegraph’s City Player of the Year the same year and earned Georgia Player of the Year honors from the Macon Touchdown Club. Smith started 35 games during his career at Nebraska, where he would become one of the leaders of the Cornhuskers’ “Blackshirt” defense as a senior. He finished his college career with 36 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He was named to the Sporting News’ Big 12 All-Freshmen team. The New England Patriots drafted Smith in the sixth round in 2006, and he played for both the Patriots and the Denver Broncos from 200610. Why we picked him: Smith is one of the greatest football players in GISA history. He
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Willingham and Southwest product Steve Wilson played 10 seasons with Tampa Bay, becoming the final original Buccaneers player to retire. completely dominated the association during his tenure at Stratford, which included recordbreaking performances in track and field. Others to consider Antron Harper, Dodge County, football: The undersized lineman started 38 straight games and anchored an offensive line that led the nation in rushing yards. Harper landed on the Rimington and Outland Trophy watch lists, and he made the All-East team as a senior at Navy alongside future NFL stars Matt Ryan, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy and Chris Long. Otis Lindsey, Dodge County, football: Lindsey played on Clemson’s 1981 national championship team, and he started five games at linebacker a year later.
Carl Summers, Willingham, football/ wrestling Bio: Summers left Willingham
To see even more athletes we considered, go to Jonathan Heeter’s blog at macon.com/heetsblog.
following a solid high school career, but he took a detour to college by serving three tours in Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, Summers was awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts and a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Bravery. After returning, Summers competed on Tennessee-Martin’s first wrestling team, serving as a captain for two years. Summers is in UT-Martin’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Why we picked him: Summers was one of the toughest athletes to ever come out of Willingham, or maybe even Macon altogether. He held Marine and world records in fitness and weightlifting. He also lettered three years on UTMartin’s football team. Others to consider Shaquan Hicks, Washington County, football: Hicks earned allstate honors in 2006 on his way to helping the Golden Hawks back to the state semifinals. He signed with Florida International.
Dustin Chancellor, Peach County, football Bio: Chancellor was an allstate standout on the Trojans’ offensive line that won the 2005 state championship. He moved on to Furman, where knee injuries derailed his four-year college career. He did play in 11 games as one of four true freshmen to suit up for the Paladins. Why we picked him: Quarterback Antonio Henton, wide receivers Chris Slaughter and Udom Umoh and running backs Mareo Howard and Duranzo Brown received much of the attention during the Trojans’ record-breaking offensive season in 2005. Someone, however, had to lead the way up front, and Chancellor did just that. Others to consider Gerald Payton, Central, football: Payton helped anchor a
Clemson University
Peach County product Terry Jolly (92) was a first-team All-ACC selection as a senior at Clemson. defense that led the Chargers win the 1975 state championship. He earned All-City honors from The Telegraph following the season.
Terry Jolly, Peach County, football Bio: After a strong junior season that resulted in all-state honorable mention recognition, Jolly followed with a dominant defensive season as a senior. He earned consensus all-state honors while playing on the same defense with Adrian Hollingshed in 1995. He became an anchor up front for Clemson in 1999 and 2000. He made second-team All-
ACC as a junior and landed on the first team as a senior. The State, the Columbia, S.C., newspaper, named Jolly to its Clemson AllDecade Team in 2009. Why we picked him: Jolly played a part in setting the stage for what was to come under thenPeach County head coach Rodney Walker. He went from being one of the best defensive linemen in Georgia to becoming one of the best in the ACC. Others to consider Johnnie Farms, Perry, football: Farms made all-state teams as a junior and senior (2007 and 2008) to become the third Perry player — alongside Kanorris Davis and Lee St. John — to achieve the honor. He now plays at Memphis.