Derrick Henry
He left Yulee holding the national high school career rushing record, 12,124 yards, breaking a mark that had stood for fifty-nine years. Then he won the 2015 Heisman Trophy at Alabama after a 1,986-yard season, still the SEC single-season record, and went to the NFL.
The line from a Nassau County field to the Heisman is not hypothetical. Someone already walked it.
Photo by Tim Hipps, U.S. Army. Public domain.
What gets someone in
Anyone can nominate. A nomination is not an induction, and we would rather have a short honest list than a long flattering one.
- They competed for a Nassau County high school. Fernandina Beach, Yulee, West Nassau or Hilliard. That is the whole qualification for being eligible.
- They finished high school at least five years ago. This is for alumni looking back, not a ranking of current students. Nobody still in school goes on this list.
- There is something specific to point at. A record, a championship, an all-state or all-county selection, competing in college, competing professionally, or a long career coaching or officiating the sport in this county. "Was really good" is not enough on its own.
- Someone can show it. A link, a clipping, a record book, a program, a roster. If we cannot verify it, we will say so rather than publish it.
Nominate someone
You do not need to know everything about them. Tell us who they are and what you remember, and we will do the checking.
Thank you. A person reads every one of these. If we can verify it, they go up, and if we cannot we will tell you what we could not find rather than quietly dropping it.