Round one in competitive sports usually features mismatches in most tournaments of 32. But in the Best of the Best series, round one is literally a celebrity death match. Each first round matchup in the Best Player of All Time series is literally star-studded. They are all studs at their positions, and their star statuses most times led to collegiate and pro football careers. However, this is the Best of the Best High School Player, so we’ll just highlight what they did here in Northeast Florida as Preps players on the gridiron.
Robert Pollard vs. John L. Williams
Robert Pollard -RB Orange Park/ Bolles
From the moment he set foot on the Bolles campus as a freshman in 1993, Pollard was on the recruiting radar as a triple threat at running back, defensive back and special teams. He scored a touchdown on his first varsity touch – an 88-yard kickoff return – and continued to produce highlights one after another. One recruiting service called Pollard the best player in the nation – as a sophomore. According to the Times Union, Pollard was rated higher as a senior than future NFL stars Champ Bailey, Plaxico Burress and Edgerrin James. As a freshman, Pollard saw the field in a crowded backfield at times but made his presence known quickly on special teams taking numerous returns back for touchdowns, including a memorable one against Lee in the first round of the playoffs on the way to winning a state title that year. As a sophomore in 1994, he averaged 14 yards a carry running for well over more than 1,000 yards, picked off five passes and returned five kicks for touchdowns for the Bulldogs leading them to the third round of the playoffs. After two all state years at Bolles, Pollard made the decision to return to Orange Park which ended up being the down fall of his career. Things didn’t pan out, as Pollard missed his entire junior season in 1995 at Orange Park after recovering from a severe injury to his arm after it went through a window during an altercation at a party. He returned for his senior season in 1996 and played on both sides of the ball, rushing for 977 yards and 20 touchdowns.
John L Williams – RB Palatka
In an era when teams lined up in the I and T formations and ran the veer in the wishbone offense, Williams not only put himself on the map but also Palatka as well leading the Panthers to their first and only state title in 1981. As a fullback, Williams rushed for 3,449 yards and 59 touchdowns, over his career, including 1,738 yards as a senior. In 2007, twenty-five years after he graduated from high school, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) recognized Williams as one of the “100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years” of Florida high school football. After a solid high school career which ended with a state runner-up finish in 1983, Williams showed what it means to be the best of the best, by leading his team to state championship games.
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