Former Blackville-Hilda Star Troy Brown Inducted into S.C. Football Hall of Fame

Live Report: South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Unveils Class of 2024 Inductees

Greenville — The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024, highlighting a distinguished group of five individuals, including Troy Brown, the legendary former Blackville-Hilda standout and New England Patriot.

The 12th annual enshrinement ceremony, scheduled for April 17, will see Brown inducted alongside Jim Carlen, Oliver “Buddy” Pough, Duce Staley, and Jim Stuckey.

Brown, a Barnwell native, played for Marshall University before making his mark in the NFL with the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowl rings during his 15-season career. Known as one of the most versatile and respected players in NFL history, Brown remains the only player in league history with at least 550 receptions, 250 punt returns, and an interception. His leadership and remarkable skill set earned him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Carlen, a legacy inductee, served as the South Carolina Gamecocks’ head football coach and athletic director from 1975–1981. Under his leadership, the team secured 45 victories and recruited future Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. A two-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year and the 1973 National Coach of the Year, Carlen’s influence on South Carolina football remains both historic and enduring. He also coached several Gamecock greats, including Rick Sanford, George Rogers, and Willie Scott—the program’s first first-round NFL Draft picks.

Pough, a native of Orangeburg, spent over two decades as the head football coach at South Carolina State, where he became the all-time winningest coach in Bulldogs history. During his 21 seasons, he led his teams to 146 wins, eight MEAC titles, and five HBCU Football National Championships, culminating in a 2021 Celebration Bowl Championship.

Staley, a West Columbia native, was a fan-favorite and star Gamecocks running back before having a successful NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, earning a Super Bowl XL ring. After transitioning to coaching, Staley won another Super Bowl, Super Bowl LII, with the Eagles. Currently serving as the Cleveland Browns’ running backs coach, Staley is also dedicated to community work through his Catch 22 Foundation, which supports single mothers across the region.

This prestigious group will be celebrated for their exceptional contributions to South Carolina football during the enshrinement ceremony this April.