It’s been 16 years since Tavarres King last suited up in Raider orange and blue. After graduating from Habersham Central in 2007, he played at the University of Georgia, where he is still remembered today as one of the program’s best-ever wide receivers.
After college, King spent six years in the NFL. Now, the Mount Airy native’s football achievements have earned him a shot at the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.
King is one of four Northeast Georgia players added to the HOF ballot this year. The others are Gainesville’s Billy Lothridge (1959), Jim Bob Harris of Clarke Central (1977), and Ken Swilling of Stephens County (1987). These newcomers join other locals on the list who fell short of election last year – Everett Strupper of Riverside Military in Gainesville (1913), Runt Moon of Commerce (1973), and Pat Swilling (Ken’s cousin), who also played at Stephens County (1981).
On Wednesday, King took to Twitter to acknowledge being added to the ballot.
“Pretty neat to even be mentioned with so many sports legends,” he tweeted.
Pretty neat to even be mentioned with so many GA Sports Legends. https://t.co/N2UqebhCW7
— Tavarres King (@Tkunodos) May 17, 2023
TK’s stats
King, better known as ‘TK,’ remains one of the best players to come off the Raider roster. During his time at Habersham Central, he collected 3,270 yards receiving and 37 TD. When he graduated, he sat fourth on the career list.
TK still holds one of the top single seasons of all-time in the state of Georgia, hauling in 100 passes for 1,641 yards and 17 TD during his 2007 senior season.
King’s senior year performance earned him the RISE Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year. His junior year was quite impressive as well, where he caught 42 passes for 700 yards and 10 scores.
A four-star recruit by Rivals, King was ranked the nation’s 15th best wide receiver in his recruiting class. He picked UGA over such schools as Florida, Georgia Tech, and his dad’s alma mater Clemson. (Anthony King was a tight end for the Tigers in the 70s).
TK redshirted his freshman season and went on to finish his UGA career with 2,602 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
After college, TK was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round, 161st overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He went from Denver to Carolina, Jacksonville, then Tampa Bay. It was while he was with the Bucs that he saw his first NFL action, getting time in two games.
Later picked up by the Giants and Vikings, King struggled to get off the injured list and left the NFL in 2018.
Voting
The Hall of Fame’s board of 30 past and present coaches, players, administrators, and media members plans to complete voting by the end of the month. From the 100 names on the ballot, they’ll select a 40-member 2023 class that will be inducted Oct. 21 at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.
The Hall of Fame is administered by Score Atlanta, a sports marketing company.
SEE ALSO
King, Swilling, Bobo among 36 added to Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame ballot
