In 1987, the long time dream of the Touchdown Club of Atlanta was realized with the creation of an award for the best High School Players in the nation. As stated by the 1987 Touchdown Club president C. Everett Thomas, “It’s an honor and a privilege to announce our commitment to amateur sports. It’s something we wanted to do on the national level for some time now. From what we know, this is the only national award given to high school players.” 

The Touchdown Club of Atlanta National Player of the Year award may not have been the first such award but it is still amongst the oldest in the nation. In the creation of this award for the Best Back & Lineman in the nation, the Club put together a 20 member selection committee. One of the members of this original committee was the venerable Bobby Dodd. Regarding the formation of this award Dodd was quoted as saying, “This type of award is what amateur sports is all about. With all the problems with amateur athletics recently, this is a breath of fresh air.”

After a successful launch of the award at the February 12, 1988 Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s annual Jamboree Banquet, the tradition was started. Sadly, on June 21, 1988 coach Dodd succumbed to lung cancer and a big hole was left in the football world. To honor the work he started and the award going forward, the Touchdown Club made Bobby Dodd the namesake of the award for the best High School Back and Lineman in the nation.

Each Year since 1988, in order to best honor coach Dodd, the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s selection committee looks to find the best Back & Lineman in the nation using all the tools available in today’s day and age as well as coach and administrator recommendations. The emphasis is on on-the-field performance with consideration going to leadership skills and classroom acumen. We wish all of our award winners a little “Dodd’s Luck” in the game of football but most importantly in the game of life.