Georgia Tech football legend Calvin Johnson headlines the school’s newest sports hall of fame induction class. Johnson is one of just six Tech players to twice earn first-team All-American honors and the winner of the 2006 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. The list of Tech players who achieved more as a Yellow Jacket and provided fans with more highlights is short.
Johnson is one of eight former Tech athletes who will be inducted Oct. 14. He’ll be joined by basketball great Jarrett Jack, one of the pillars of the Jackets’ 2004 run to the national championship game and a link in Tech’s chain of sterling point guards. Jack was a two-time All-ACC selection and is fifth all-time in school history in assists.
Other inductees are Lynn Houston Moore (1999 All-American in the high jump, four-time ACC champion), Brendon Mahoney (two-time ACC most valuable performer in track, won seven ACC titles), Eric Patterson (three-time All-ACC baseball player, 124 stolen bases in three seasons), Michael Sorrow (All-American and two-time All-ACC baseball player), Nicholas Thompson (two-time All-American golfer, helped Tech to two NCAA runner-up finishes), Jaime Wong (tennis player set school records for singles and doubles wins, three-time first-team All-ACC).
Johnson’s induction might have been the most anticipated of any former Tech athlete. He built upon his legend with a decorated NFL career (six Pro Bowls, NFL single-season receiving yardage) before retiring from the Detroit Lions in March after nine seasons. In recent comments, he has said he hopes to return to Tech this fall to begin earning the 30 credits necessary to complete his degree.
