Scott NeSmith

Many times, the best players on any particular team doesn’t get much notoriety because of the position they play and the roles those positions require. Scott NeSmith is one such player. As a starting center for three seasons on Coach Will Roy Cooley’s Yellow Jacket football teams, he started in 40 consecutive games. NeSmith was named All-Region for his efforts paving the way for running back Terry White during the 1975 season and his senior season in 1976, when the Yellow Jackets finished the season 10-2 and defeated Thomasville for the first time in school history. However, it was after his athletic career ended that NeSmith truly shone.

After attending the University of Georgia, he earned a PhD in Horticulture. Today he is regarded as one of the foremost experts in blueberries all over the world. Through his horticultural efforts, NeSmith has won numerous academic and research awards, and is a Professor Emeritus in Horticulture for UGA. Whether opening holes for running backs on the gridiron or helping farmers across the globe, Scott NeSmith has made a career of paving the way for others.