The NFL kicked off last night. The fantasy lineups and the arguments over whose team has a chance are buzzing all over the country.
But around Savannah, there is another reason to watch.
Some of those players on television once played right here in Chatham County, Georgia.
Before the draft calls and the NFL uniforms, they were kids playing for Beach, Benedictine, Calvary, Jenkins, Johnson, or another Chatham County school. Local fans knew their names long before the rest of the country did.
Newcomers
Ted Hurst is giving Johnson fans a new name to follow this season.
The former Atomsmasher took a road through Valdosta State and Georgia State before Tampa Bay selected him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The No. 84 pick became the highest draft selection in Georgia State history.
From Johnson to an NFL locker room. That gives the next kid putting on an AtomSmashers jersey something to think about.
Nolan Smith has already given Calvary Day fans plenty to talk about.
Smith played at Calvary before finishing high school at IMG Academy. Then came Georgia and Philadelphia. During the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl LIX championship, he recorded four playoff sacks, a team record in a single postseason.
The uniform changed. The Savannah connection stayed.
Warren Brinson and Dylan McMahon give Savannah Christian fans that same connection.
Brinson played at Savannah Christian before moving to IMG Academy, then Georgia. Green Bay drafted the defensive lineman in 2025. McMahon went from Savannah Christian to North Carolina State, was drafted by Philadelphia in 2024, and later started a game for the Los Angeles Rams.
Back in the Day
Those are the more recent names. Ask a longtime Savannah football fan about the others, and that conversation could take a while.
Eric Green ought to come up pretty quickly.
The former Beach standout became a first-round pick out of Liberty and earned two Pro Bowl selections with Pittsburgh. He finished his NFL career with 362 catches and 36 touchdowns.
Think about that the next time somebody brings up Beach football. There is history behind that Bulldogs uniform.
The same goes for Johnson.
George “Butch” Atkinson went from the Atomsmashers to Morris Brown and became part of Oakland’s hard-hitting defense. He won Super Bowl XI with the Raiders. Decades before Hurst heard his name called in the draft, Atkinson had already put Johnson football on that stage.
And do not leave Tompkins out of this conversation.
Edwin Bailey spent 11 seasons with Seattle. He played 139 games and started 120 on the offensive line.
An offensive guard does not get many highlights. Staying in the league that long tells you plenty.
Bailey is part of a Tompkins group that also includes Hubie Ginn, Solomon Brannan and Freddie Woodson. Savannah High, Benedictine, Groves, Jenkins and Windsor Forest have names of their own.
That is what makes this more than a list of football players. It is a piece of local sports history, spread across schools and generations.
Every trip started well before an NFL team called.
Coaches were teaching them. Teammates pushing them. Families finding a way to get them to practice. The things happening at local schools right now.
So enjoy the NFL season. Pull for your team. Watch those Savannah names.
And when you take your seat at a high school game this fall, pay attention.
The next one could be right in front of you.
Chatham County’s NFL football connections, by school.
This list includes former AFL players and NFL players who played in a NFL game.
| Savannah Chatham County NFL Players | |||||
| School | Player | College | Position | NFL years | NFL teams |
| Beach | Carey Scott | Kentucky State | DB | 2002-03 | Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders |
| Eric Green | Liberty | TE | 1990-99 | Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets | |
| Jason Thomas | South Carolina/Hampton | OL | 2002-03 | Baltimore Ravens | |
| Roy Simmons | Georgia Tech | OL | 1979-81, 1983 | New York Giants, Washington Redskins | |
| Benedictine | Andrew Provence | South Carolina | DL | 1983-87 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Bill Searcey | Alabama | OL | 1985 | San Diego Chargers | |
| Josh Mallard | Georgia | DE | 2002, 2006-2008 | Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Calvary Day | Demarcus Dobbs | Georgia | DT | 2011-2015 | San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks |
| Calvary Day / IMG Academy | Nolan Smith | Georgia | OLB | 2023-Present | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Groves | Royce Smith | Georgia | G | 1972-76 | New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons |
| Jenkins | Anthony Lanier | Alabama A&M | DT | 2016-2017 | Washington Redskins |
| Ben Patrick | Delaware | TE | 2007-2010 | Arizona Cardinals | |
| Dewey Warren | Tennessee | QB | 1968 | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Randall Mitchell | Tennessee at Chattanooga | NT | 1987 | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Johnson | Frank Middleton | Florida A&M | RB | 1984-85, 1987 | Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers |
| George "Butch" Atkinson | Morris Brown | DB | 1968-79 | Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos | |
| Ted Hurst | Valdosta State / Georgia State | WR | 2026-Present | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| Savannah Christian | Dylan McMahon | North Carolina State | C / OL | 2024-Present | Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams |
| Jalen Myrick | Minnesota | DB | 2017 | Jacksonville Jaguars | |
| Savannah Christian / IMG | Warren Brinson | Georgia | DT | 2025-Present | Green Bay Packers |
| Avon Riley | UCLA | LB | 1981-87 | Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| Donte' Curry | Morris Brown | LB | 2001-2008 | Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers | |
| Eric Brown | Savannah State | DB | 1989 | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Frank Kearse | Alabama A&M | DT | 2011-2015 | Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins | |
| Leroy Harris | Arkansas State | RB | 1977-82 | Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Taz Anderson | Georgia Tech | FB/TE | 1961-64, 1966-67 | St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons | |
| Tompkins | Edwin Bailey | South Carolina State | OL | 1981-91 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Freddie Woodson | Florida A&M | DL/G | 1967-69 | Miami Dolphins | |
| Hubie Ginn | Florida A&M | RB | 1970-78 | Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders | |
| Solomon Brannan | Morris Brown | DB | 1965-67 | Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets | |
| Windsor Forest | Eron Riley | Duke | WR | 2011 | New York Jets |
| Michael Thompson | Tennessee State | OT | 2000-2002 | Atlanta Falcons | |
Did Prep Sports Report miss someone? If a player from a Chatham County school has been left out or a detail needs correcting, please email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com. Include the player’s name, school and NFL background so the list can be updated.
Lead Photo: Top, left to right: Edwin Bailey and George “Butch” Atkinson. Bottom: Ted Hurst.
Photos courtesy of NFL and former players sites.
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To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report's 2026 high school football coverage.
Optim Orthopedics wants you in the game.
Keeping Savannah-area athletes healthy and ready for gameday all season long.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent's Academy).
