Georgia lost one of its great former college players this week when Royston native Dee Dowis was killed in a car crash on Monday morning on I-85 in Gwinnett County. Dowis, who was 48, gained fame as an option quarterback at the Air Force Academy in the 1980s, finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1989, when he became only the fifth QB in Division I-A to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards. It is rare for a former Georgia high school player to finish so high in the Heisman balloting. We've identified only 18 who have done it (not counting repeats).
3. Deshaun Watson, Gainesville/Clemson (2015)
10. Jarvis Jones, Carver-Col./UGA (2012)
1. Cam Newton, Westlake/Auburn (2010)
10. Calvin Johnson, Sandy Creek/Georgia Tech (2006)
7. Champ Bailey, Charlton County/UGA (1998)
7. Eric Zeier, Marietta/UGA (1994)
1. Charlie Ward, Central Thomasville/FSU (1993)
10. Eric Zeier, Marietta/UGA (1993)
3. Garrison Hearst, Lincoln County/UGA (1992)
6. Charlie Ward, Central Thomasville/FSU (1992)
9. Eric Curry, Thomasville/Alabama (1992)
6. Dee Dowis, Franklin Co./Air Force (1989)
1. Herschel Walker, Johnson Co./UGA (1982)
2. Herschel Walker, Johnson Co./UGA (1981)
1. George Rogers, Duluth/South Carolina (1980)
3. Herschel Walker, Johnson Co./UGA (1980)
7. George Rogers, Duluth/South Carolina (1979)
9. Ron Simmons, Warner Robins/FSU (1979)
8. Eddie Lee Ivery, Thomson/Georgia Tech (1978)
7. Ray Goff, Moultrie/UGA (1976)
2. Billy Lothridge, Gainesville/Georgia Tech (1963)
8. Billy Lothridge, Gainesville/Georgia Tech (1962)
3. Clint Castleberry, Boys/Georgia Tech (1942)
Note: Jim Parker, who attended Ballard-Hudson in Macon, finished eighth in the voting in 1956 for Ohio State. He finished high school in Ohio.
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