The state’s all-time greatest high school football stars will be honored this Saturday, Oct. 26 as 30 new faces—representing the Class of 2024—join the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame as its third class of inductees. Players from all corners of the state and superstars from many decades will enter the hall this year and they will share a bond exclusive to those that have also competed on the distinguished stage of Georgia High School Football. One such athlete that made the most of his opportunity was Bryce Stanfield—a Class of 2021 honor graduate of Harrison High School that tragically lost his life in February. On Saturday, the legacy of Bryce will be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with a moment of silence dedicated to the former Hoya with the family of Bryce, including his mother Teri Stanfield, his high school coach Matt Dickmann and his wife Kelly, Earl Smith and dear friends Lisa and Jeff Tomberlin in attendance.
BRYCE’S STORY
Bryce Stanfield was an underclassmen chasing his football dreams in 2018 when he attended a Georgia Elite Showcase at Grady High School. He was recognized as the top defensive lineman at the camp and earned an invite to the December all-star game, while also forcing a friendship with his soon-to-be football mentors Chuck Smith and Dez Walker. Earning the nickname “Mean Green”, Bryce starred for Harrison as a four-year letterman that would take snaps at tight end in addition to his primary role on the defensive line. Bryce was a key contributor on Harrison’s undefeated 15-0 state title season and was a team captain in 2020. A leader on and off the field, Bryce was an honor graduate with a 4.38 GPA that coach Dickmann described as “uncommon and elite”. He chose to play for the Furman Paladins after accumulating 26 Division I offers and made an immediate impact.
Wearing #97, Bryce contributed as a freshman and sophomore and then played in all thirteen games during Furman’s 10-3 campaign and SoCon Championship team in 2023—earning SoCon All-Academic Team. He was a Junior Heath and Sciences major and at 6-foot-2, 268 pounds had NFL aspirations in addition to a desire to attend dental school after graduating. He made time to volunteer in the community and was unanimously selected as Captain by his teammates for the 2024 teammates.
He collapsed during team conditioning on the morning of Feb. 7, 2024 and after going into cardiac arrest and being put on life support, he passed away from a massive pulmonary embolism connected to a genetic blood disorder called Factor V Leiden at 2:47 p.m. on Feb. 9. On the morning of his passing, Dr. Elizabeth Davis held a private ceremony attended by his family, teammates and coaches where she conferred his Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, magnu cum laude.
Earlier this month, Finley Krutchten, a senior football star at Denmark High School died from a pulmonary embolism also connected to the Factor V Leiden. The loss of Bryce and the recent passing of Krutchen in the same year has motivated Teri’s commitment to raising blood clot awareness in athletes. She has been busy teaming up with the National Blood Clot Alliance as an advocate and hopes to spread awareness of the symptoms and risk factors.
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