3CSUNDAY, JULY 8, 2012 THE TELEGRAPH macon.com

Steve Wilson, Willingham/Southwest, football

Bio: After graduating from Southwest, Wilson earned three varsity letters at Georgia. He started his final two seasons — at guard in 1974, then replacing fellow Macon native Craig Hertwig at tackle in 1975. Wilson

became a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976. Wilson played in the NFL for 10 seasons, all with the Buccaneers. He was the final original Buccaneers player to retire. He anchored the offensive line on three playoff teams for Tampa Bay.

Why we picked him: One of the first standout players for Southwest, Wilson got better with each step along the way in his career. He went from good high school player to very good college player to one of the best centers in the NFL. He was a steady force in the Buccaneers’ progression from laughing stock expansion franchise to perennial playoff contender from 1979-82.Others to consider

Mark Stewart, Northside, football: A current assistant coach at his alma mater, Stewart signed with Florida State out of high school after an All-Middle Georgia senior season.

Jimmy Moore, Hawkinsville, football: Moore played on two of the best teams in Red Devils history. The Red Devils lost to West Point in the 1958 state championship game. Hawkinsville, however, bounced back a year later when it beat North Cobb 6-0 in the championship game. Moore was named lineman of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following the win.

Gordon Watson, Mary Persons, football: Watson was named The Telegraph’s Player of the Year in 1974.

Danny Carpenter, Northside, football

Bio: Carpenter earned All-Middle Georgia honors as a standout lineman for Northside in 1967. He helped the Eagles to a 6-3-1 record that year, which gave the school its best winning percentage to that point in school history. He also was on the first two Northside teams to beat Warner Robins.

Carpenter later went 33-13 as Northside’s head coach from 1982-1985 and became superintendent of the Houston County school system.

Why we picked him: Carpenter was one of the key players in the early years of the Northside football program. He earned honorable mention all-state honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a distinction that only two Northside players had received before him.

Jim Parker,Ballard-Hudson, football

Bio: Parker grew up in Macon and attended Ballard-Hudson for his first three years before moving to Toledo, Ohio, for his senior season. During his senior year at Toledo’s Scott High School, Parker caught the eye of Ohio State’s then-head football coach, Woody Hayes, in 1952 and went on to a stellar college career. Parker played on both sides of the line and helped the Buckeyes win the national championship in 1954. During the next two seasons, Parker earned two All-America selections, won the Outland Trophy and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. Parker was the first-round selection of the Baltimore Colts. He played 11 seasons for the Colts, making eight Pro

Bowl appearances and earning 10 All-Pro selections. He won two NFL championships with the Colts and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first

year of eligibility. Parker’s obituary in the New York Times said he “is widely regarded as the best

offensive lineman ever.”Why we picked him: Although

he didn’t graduate from high school in Macon, Parker is undoubtedly one of Macon’s and Georgia’s greatest athletes. In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he’s in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Ohio State’s Varsity O Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He also made Sports Illustrated’s All-Century college team and the NFL’s 75th anniversary team.Others to consider

Carlie McNeil, Willingham, football: McNeil was one of seven all-state players in Willingham history. McNeil signed with Florida State.

Chip Minton, Southwest, football/bobsledding: Minton wore No. 62 as a football player at Southwest, but he became known for making two Olympic bobsledding teams and winning a bronze in the event at the 1997 World Championships.

NeilCallaway, Central, football

Bio: After landing on the honorable mention all-state list as a junior, Callaway was named to the all-state team in 1972 after helping lead the Chargers to an 11-1-1 record. The Chargers lost to Lakeside-DeKalb in the state championship game. Callaway played in two Sugar Bowls and one Orange Bowl as a player at Alabama from 1975-77. His versatility allowed him to play five different positions for the Crimson Tide. Callaway went on to coach at six different

colleges, including stints at Auburn, Alabama and Georgia, before becoming the head coach at UAB in 2006.

Why we picked him: Callaway played on some of the great Central football teams that helped pave the way for the Chargers’ 1975 championship run. His outstanding career as a player helped earn him induction into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame. Callaway earned Alabama’s Frank Thomas Award as the team’s outstanding athlete in 1977.Others to consider

Harold Hallman, Southwest, football: Hallman earned All-SEC honors in 1985 before embarking on a standout career in the Canadian Football League. He made four all-star teams with Toronto and Calgary, and he won a Grey Cup with Toronto.

Jason Respert, Northside, football: Respert made all-state teams as a high school player in 1998 and 1999 before heading to Tennessee, where he lettered for four seasons and became team captain as a senior. He currently is the head football coach at Douglas County.

Tommy Seward, Lanier, football: The standout offensive lineman signed with South Carolina.

Sid Smith, Warner Robins, football: Smith attended Warner Robins during the Demons’ five-year run of nine wins per season from 1968-72. Smith went on to play at Alabama.

RogerWomack,Tift County, football

Bio: Womack was the best player on arguably the best Tift County team prior to the Gene Brodie era that began in 1976. Womack earned All-Middle Georgia Lineman of the Year honors from The Telegraph in 1966.

Why we picked him: Womack was the first All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year for Tift County. He was also a stalwart on the defense that stopped top-ranked Moultrie in an upset over the Packers in the first-ever game at the stadium that would later be called Brodie Field.

JustinBrown,Warner Robins, football

Bio: Brown was a consensus all-state selection in 2004 after helping lead Warner Robins to the state championship. Brown went to Furman, where he earned All-Southern Conference honors in 2006 and 2007. He also earned Sports Network

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ONLINEGo to macon.com for more photos of the players who were chosen, as well as Jonathan Heeter’s podcast.

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Jim Parker played football atBallard-Hudson before moving to Toledo, Ohio, for his senior year of high school. He went on to become a two-way starter for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.

University of AlabamaNeil Callaway played football for Central and Alabama in the 1970s before moving on to a coaching career that included time as the head coach at UAB.