Best football player to ever come out of NC
- Thread starter '98 State Champion
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He actually went to States spring practice because he and the Sox couldn't get a deal done. I believe it was day 1 of practice when Boston worked out the deal and Trot left. Trots oldest son has a great arm and may follow in his dads foot steps. We will see.
I agree. Any coach that had to go against him will start getting nervous just talking about it. CM numbers don't jump off the chart because, in his prime, no one ran at him. The Deon Sanders effect, just don't go there.
I believe I am correct in saying that NC State was not Trot's first choice. Alabama recruited him but they did not allow dual sport recruits and Trot wanted to play baseball and football in college. I think the State deal was more of a gesture to the Red Sox that he was willing to play college football / baseball if they didn't meet his financial demands.
The 1992 - 1995 New Hanover baseball teams were as good as I have ever seen in high school, especially the 1993 and 1994 teams. As good as Trot was I thought he was the 3rd best hitter on these teams behind Sean Gallagher and Chris Moore. I think Gallagher may have peaked after Trot left. However, Trot's overall baseball ability and swagger that he brought the team made him the best player on these teams.
You are correct. I think Gallagher holds just about every offensive record at NH. he was a tremendous hitter.
I do remember him too (Gallagher) playing Legion ball too against Kernersville Post 36. K'ville won it all in 92 and I think Post 10 won the year after. I have to check the record for that. By the way, That Kernersville Post 36 was LOADED. Greg Payne play third base and now he sings for Piedmont Boys. Ray Farmer play CF and now he is GM for Cleveland Browns. Joe LaGarde play pitcher and outfield(I think)....he was QB for that great 92 East Forsyth Team that ran the table that fall. Many of those boys play on Senior Little League All Stars that went to World Series in Kissimmee Florida. Rusty LaRue play on same team (SR all stars) Most of you know who Rusty LaRue is. He is now coaching West Forsyth BB team.
Those three teams were mighty special for Kernersville Sports legacy. Sorry I went off the track ...I was mighty lucky to watch those legion games and see how many great players on that field alone. Where is Gallagher now? You said Trot Nixon's son is pretty darn good....which HS is he at now?
Those three teams were mighty special for Kernersville Sports legacy. Sorry I went off the track ...I was mighty lucky to watch those legion games and see how many great players on that field alone. Where is Gallagher now? You said Trot Nixon's son is pretty darn good....which HS is he at now?
as far as High School alone, I'd say Carl Pickens. 6'4". No one scored on their defense with him at FS. 100 m champ for a long time and until 2 years ago still the sate high jump champ. Now all he does is trout fish.
It's Peppers, not Pepper. But I do think that he is one of the greatest ATHLETES to ever come out of NC. I think he is the only person to ever play in a Super Bowl and a Final Four. The second pick in the NFL draft, I'm sure he would have been a first round draft pick in the NBA draft as well, had he chosen to go that route. SWE was in his school's conference and I remember playing against him in football, basketball, and track. People don't know that he was a running back in high school. He played SOME defense, but his focus was offense until he went to UNC. I wholeheartedly believe that had he came along in the 60s, his career would have rivaled that of Bell.
Bobby Bell of the old Cleveland High in Shelby- went to Univ. of Minnesota- drafted by Kansas City Chiefs in 1963` 6 time AFL all star-2 time college first team all American-5 time all AFL first team selection 1965,1966,1967,1968 & 1969 -AFL champions 1966 & 1969-Superbowl Champion in 1969-1962 Outland trophy-NFL 1970's all decade team-his number 78 retired by Kansas City- WHO TOPS THAT FROM N.C,
Keenan Allen and Carl Pickens have a lot of similarities, you'd be hard pressed to find athletes from two different generations so similar in achievements.
Pickens and Allen both played safety and wide receiver in high school, both were ranked among the top 5 high school players in the country their senior year (Pickens actually ranked #1 by one source, only other NC player ranked #1 coming out of high school by any source: Chris Leak) both were viewed as potentially better NFL prospects at free safety but ended up at wide receiver. Both were high school track stars, both are 6'2-6'3, both fell in the NFL draft despite being obvious 1st round talents (Carl attitude/Keenan injury) both won the NFL offensive ROY award. Now all Keenan has to do is become an All Pro and he looks on course to do that this season.
The edge goes to Pickens in the comparison because he was a Freshman All American safety at Tennessee (four interceptions in only four games at safety, '90 Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP) before being moving to wide receiver full time (where he also became an All American) and he was a bit faster than Allen.
As an added bonus Pickens averaged 27 points per game in basketball, was a D1 player in that sport had he chose that route.
Pickens and Allen both played safety and wide receiver in high school, both were ranked among the top 5 high school players in the country their senior year (Pickens actually ranked #1 by one source, only other NC player ranked #1 coming out of high school by any source: Chris Leak) both were viewed as potentially better NFL prospects at free safety but ended up at wide receiver. Both were high school track stars, both are 6'2-6'3, both fell in the NFL draft despite being obvious 1st round talents (Carl attitude/Keenan injury) both won the NFL offensive ROY award. Now all Keenan has to do is become an All Pro and he looks on course to do that this season.
The edge goes to Pickens in the comparison because he was a Freshman All American safety at Tennessee (four interceptions in only four games at safety, '90 Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP) before being moving to wide receiver full time (where he also became an All American) and he was a bit faster than Allen.
As an added bonus Pickens averaged 27 points per game in basketball, was a D1 player in that sport had he chose that route.
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You have to remember that Allen came from brand new high school, Northern Guilford. He went to California which is a bit of different breed from Tenn as far as starting on the team as a freshman. What's more, Carl played in late 80's and Tenn was not that good so he had a better chance to start. Both players are great and in my eyes, they are even as of right now, Kennan Allen could have better pro career but that remain to be seen. His career is not over yet.
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