Georgia High School Hall of Fame announces inductees; 4 local players

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame revealed its Class of 2025, and four former CSRA football players received an invitation.

This is the fourth class of inductees since the inaugural group in 2022.

A total of 33 players made the cut from an 100-nominee ballot. This years list includes: Tom Nash from Washington-Wilkes, Chip Banks from Lucy C. Laney, Robert Edwards from Washington County and Carlos Rogers from Butler.

Headlining this years class is Kirby Smart (Bainbridge, 1996), Sterling Sharpe (Glennville, 1982) and Cam Newton (Westlake, 2006).

Tom Nash, Edge, Washington-Wilkes (1922)

After leaving Washington, Georgia, Nash played collegiate football for the University of Georgia during the 1925-1927 football teams. The last “Dream and Wonder” team earned him the title of a Consensus All-American.

After leaving Athens, Nash played professionally for the Green Bay Packers from 1928-1932. He was an All-Pro for Wisconsin, winning the World Championship in three out of this four seasons (1929-1931). Nash later played professional baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and coached Georgia as an assistant under Wally Butts.

Chip Banks, Linebacker, Laney (1977)

Chip Banks was an All-Pro NFL player for the Cleveland Browns. The linebacker was a Lucy Craft Laney and University of Southern California graduate.

Banks was drafted by the Browns as the third overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, still the highest draft pick by an athlete from Augusta. He was a four-time AFC Pro Bowler and earned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1982. In 138 games in the NFL, Banks collected 46 career sacks and 9 interceptions.

Robert Edwards, RB/DB, Washington County (1992)

Robert Edwards is a former Golden Hawk who played at the professional level both in the NFL and Canadian Football League. Like Nash, Edwards also played for the University of Georgia where he was a running back, although recruited as a corner. In the season opener in 1995, Edwards set a school record for five touchdowns in a game, helping the Dawgs beat South Carolina 42-23. He ended his career with the Red & Black rushing for 2,033 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 214 receiving yards in 23 games.

Edwards was the 18th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. The former NFL player currently serves as his alma mater’s head football coach.

Carlos Rogers, Cornerback, Butler (1999)

Carlos Rogers was a former Butler Bulldog and Auburn Tiger. Rogers was an All-American for the Tigers, starting 44 games over the course of four years. He finished with 134 solo tackles of 182 total, and seven interceptions. The former corner still holds Auburn’s record for deflections with 40, that record still ranks second in SEC history.

Raised in Thomson before making the journey to South Augusta, Rogers became the overall ninth pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. His NFL career took him to San Francisco and the Oakland Raiders.