Greenville, SC — The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame recently announced its Class of 2025, an extraordinary group of football leaders whose achievements on the field and impact beyond the game have left an enduring legacy in South Carolina and across the nation.
These five remarkable individuals will be formally inducted during the 13th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, taking place April 16, 2026, at the elegant Hotel Hartness in Greenville. The evening will celebrate not only athletic excellence, but also leadership, perseverance, and the powerful influence of football in shaping communities and lives.
Summerville native and former Green Wave, University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals standout A.J. Green is one of the inductees.
After rewriting the record books for Summerville High School receivers, Green quickly emerged as one of college football’s most dominant wide outs during his career at the University of Georgia from 2008 to 2010. A unanimous All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year, Green finished his collegiate career with 2,619 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.
Selected fourth overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Green became one of the league’s premier receivers, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and surpassing 10,000 career receiving yards.
Off the field, Green has remained deeply committed to giving back, supporting educational initiatives and providing scholarships for teachers and students in his hometown community.
Green is the only Summerville High graduate to have his football jersey (#1) retired by former Green Wave coach John McKissick. Also a star basketball player in high school, he led Summerville to its first boys’ basketball state championship.
Joining this year’s inductees will be several distinguished honorees, including 2025 Humanitarian of the Year Emily Beamer, 2025 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy recipient Sammy Brown, presented by Ellison Kibler Merrill Lynch, and the 2026 Bridge Builder Excellence Award Finalists (to be announced). Together, these honorees represent the best of South Carolina football’s tradition of excellence and service.