A look at the history of the Corky Kell Classic

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The state of Georgia is a growing football destination on each level of competition. The College Football Hall of Fame opens in the heart of Atlanta this fall. Super Bowls and Falcons games are represented at the professional level. The core of the Peach State’s love for football is showcased best each year on the high school level with the Corky Kell Classic. There is nothing on any level quite of competition that celebrates the game of football like the Corky Kell does each season.

From its inception in 1992, the event has grown into the biggest football event in the country. No field sees more action and no state kicks off its season like Georgia does each year with the Corky Kell Classic.

The 2014 Classic expanded to seven games for the first time and like always, the quality of games matches quantity of this football marathon. There are 14 teams in this year’s Corky Kell Classic and none of the teams finished with losing records last year despite playing in some of the state’s most competitive regions. The 14 teams combined for a 148-37-1 record last year and 10 of the teams recorded double-digit victories.

CREAM OF THE CROP …

The power programs invited to the classic each year supports the high number of Corky Kell participants that go on to play at the collegiate level each year. The 2012 event featured some of the most college signees seen in a single Corky Kell Classic. The top recruit in the country, Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss), joined Tyren Jones (Alabama), Parker McLeod (Alabama), Brandon Kublanow (Georgia), Anthony Price (Rice), Bryce Ramsey (Georgia), Brendan Langley (Georgia), Quincy Mauger (Georgia), Travis Marshall (Navy), Donnie Miles (North Carolina), DeVondre Seymour (Georgia), Jalen Brooks (Maryland), Alex Stoehr (Georgia State), Octavius Jackson (Florida), Bobby Hill (Ole Miss), Johnny Ward (South Florida), Shaun McGee (Georgia), Kyrin Priester (Clemson), Adam Ledford (Harvard), Wayne Gallman (Clemson), Zach Barnes (Texas Tech), Kasey Gaines (Penn State), David Kamara (Ole Miss), Ryan Carter (Clemson), Jack Banda (Arizona), Jujaun Dulaney (Maryland), Ty Griffin (Georgia Tech), Tony Porter (Ohio), Daniel Stephens (Middle Tennessee), J.J. Green (Georgia), Jarrad Davis (Florida) and J.P. Vonashek (South Carolina) in the 2012 classic.

INTERESTING FACTS …

There have been 75 games played in the previous 22-year history and just seven shutouts. All three of the 1994 Classic games ended in shutouts (Brookwood 21-0 over Newnan, Warner Robins 6-0 over McEachern and Upson-Lee 25-0 over Dunwoody). Most surprisingly is Parkview’s 8-7 victory over Harrison in the 2000 edition is the only overtime game seen in the event’s history.

The first ever five-game Corky Kell was in 1996 after a typical two and three-game format the previous year. The event went to a four-game format in 1987 and did not change for 16 years until the 2012 Corky Kell Classic went to a fifth game.

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