Summerville’s A.J. Green And Mount Pleasant’s Dexter Coakley Represent The Lowcountry In The Latest SC Football Hall Of Fame Class
The Lowcountry has two major reasons to celebrate the latest South Carolina Football Hall of Fame class.
A.J. Green, who began his football journey at Summerville High School, and Dexter Coakley, a Mount Pleasant native and Wando High School graduate, are both part of the SC Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The full class includes Jerry Butler, Dexter Coakley, Todd Ellis, A.J. Green, and Bob Jeter.
The 13th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony was held on April 16, 2026 at Hotel Hartness in Greenville, and the ceremony is now available to watch on demand through the SC Football Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel as part of its July 4th premiere celebration.
Two Lowcountry Names In One Hall Of Fame Class
For Charleston-area football fans, this class hits close to home.
Green represents Summerville, while Coakley represents Mount Pleasant and Wando. Together, they give the Charleston area two standout names in a class honoring some of the state’s biggest football figures.
Live 5 also highlighted the Lowcountry connection, noting that Summerville alum A.J. Green and Wando alum Dexter Coakley are among the inductees in the SC Football Hall of Fame’s latest class.
A.J. Green: From Summerville To NFL Stardom
Before A.J. Green became one of the NFL’s most respected wide receivers, he was making plays at Summerville High School.
Green went on to star at the University of Georgia, where he became one of the top receivers in college football before being selected No. 4 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2011 NFL Draft.
His professional résumé speaks for itself.
Green finished his NFL career with 727 receptions, 10,514 receiving yards, and 70 receiving touchdowns over 12 seasons. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl seven times during his career.
For Summerville, Green remains one of the clearest examples of a Lowcountry athlete who went from local high school standout to national football star.
A.J. Green Career Highlights
Local Roots: Summerville, South Carolina
High School: Summerville High School
College: University of Georgia
NFL Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals
NFL Draft: No. 4 overall pick in 2011
NFL Career: 727 receptions, 10,514 receiving yards, 70 touchdowns
Honors: 7-time Pro Bowl selection
Dexter Coakley: From Wando To College Football Hall Of Fame
Dexter Coakley’s football story also begins in the Charleston area.
A Mount Pleasant native and Wando High School graduate, Coakley went on to become one of the greatest defensive players in Appalachian State history. App State lists him as a three-time First-Team All-American, two-time Buck Buchanan Award winner, and three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Coakley finished his App State career with 616 tackles, which ranks first in program history, and his No. 32 jersey was retired by the school.
He later played 10 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams, earning three Pro Bowl selections. ESPN lists his NFL career totals at 767 total tackles, 597 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions.
Coakley was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011, becoming Appalachian State’s first inductee.
Dexter Coakley Career Highlights
Local Roots: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
High School: Wando High School
College: Appalachian State
NFL Teams: Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams
College Career: 616 tackles, 3-time First-Team All-American
College Honors: 2-time Buck Buchanan Award winner, 3-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Year
NFL Career: 767 total tackles, 13 interceptions, 9.5 sacks
Honors: 3-time Pro Bowl selection, College Football Hall of Fame inductee
Why This Matters For The Lowcountry
This is more than a football note.
A.J. Green and Dexter Coakley represent two different parts of the Charleston-area football story. Green came out of Summerville and became one of the NFL’s best receivers of his era. Coakley came out of Mount Pleasant and Wando, built a legendary college résumé, then became a Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL.
Both are now being recognized by the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.
For the Lowcountry, that means two local football legacies are getting their flowers on a statewide stage.
Watch The Ceremony
The 13th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony is available on demand through the SC Football Hall of Fame YouTube channel. The ceremony features the Class of 2025 along with additional honorees, including the 2025 Humanitarian of the Year and the 2025 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy winner.
Final Word
From Summerville to Mount Pleasant, the Charleston area is represented in a major way in the latest South Carolina Football Hall of Fame class.
A.J. Green and Dexter Coakley built careers that reached far beyond the Lowcountry, but their football roots remain right here at home.
The Lowcountry got its flowers — and these two legends earned every bit of it.
