High School Sports Achievements of NFL Players

Ben Mauk has arguably the best statistics of any high school quarterback. Playing in a no-huddle, five wide receiver offense under his father's coaching, Mauk set three national records: completions (1,931), attempts (17,534) and touchdowns (179). He won two state championships and earned the 2002 "Mr.Ohio" award when he passed for 6,540 yards and 76 touchdowns (both records). After a torn rotator cuff has been slow to heal, Mauk played sparingly at Wake Forest before transferring to start at quarterback for the University of Cincinnati in 2007, his senior year.

Ronald Curry was an All-American in both football and basketball at Hampton High School in Virginia. He led his team to three consecutive state titles from 1995 to 1997. The 1996 Hampton football team is considered one of the best of all-time. They went 14-0, outscoring their opponents 768-83, including a 51-0 shutout in the title game. In his senior season, Curry passed for 2,300 yards and 36 TDs, while adding 900 yards and 29 TDs on the ground. Curry would go on to star at North Carolina in basketball and football, switching to wide receiver after being drafted by the Oakland Raiders.

Before winning multiple Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith got his start at Escambia High School in Florida. Smith would rush for an obscene 8,804 yards, average 7.8 yards/carry and 106 TDs. He was named the 1986 player of the year, leading to his scholarship to University of Florida - the rest is, well, NFL Hall of Fame history.

Ken Hill attended Sugarland High in Texas and was appropriately nicknamed "The Sugarland Express." Hill set the record of 11,232 rushing yards that still stands today. According to the record books, Hill set marks of most touchdowns per game (4.8) and yards (337.1). In 1953, Hill had a night to remember with 520 yards on 11 carries (47.3 average), returned a punt 82 yards, a kickoff 64 yards and an interception 21 yards. Hill would go on to be drafted in the 14th round by the Chicago Cardinals in 1958, but never dominated like he did at Sugarland.