Hall of Fame
Position: Running Back
Years: 1990-92
Place of Birth: Lincolnton, Georgia
Date of Birth: January 4, 1971
Jersey Number: 5
Height: 5 ft 11 in
Weight: 215 lbs
High School: Lincoln County (Lincolnton)
Combining power, speed, and versatility, Garrison Hearst anchored the Georgia offense as one of the most electrifying running backs in school history. The Lincolnton, Georgia, native now becomes the 17th Bulldog player to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Hearst delivered a historic junior campaign in 1992, earning unanimous First Team All-America honors and capturing the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. He finished third in Heisman Trophy voting and led the nation in scoring with 126 points, while also becoming the inaugural recipient of the ESPY Award for the nation's most outstanding college football player.
Hearst was named SEC Player of the Year in 1992, helping guide Georgia to a share of the SEC East title during his award-winning junior season. He led the SEC that season in rushing yards (1,547), total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (19), points scored (126), and yards per carry (6.8, minimum 200 attempts), while his 1,910 all-purpose yards ranked second in conference history at the time. His accolades also included SEC Freshman of the Year in 1990.
Hearst concluded his Georgia career ranked second in school history (trailing only NFF College Football Hall of Famer Herschel Walker) in career rushing yards (3,232), all-purpose yards (3,934), and 100-yard rushing games (16). He remains Georgia's all-time leader in single-season points by a non-kicker (126) and single-season rushing touchdowns (19), both achieved during his remarkable 1992 campaign. He finished his collegiate career with 543 rushing attempts for 3,232 yards and 33 touchdowns, while adding 45 receptions for 546 yards and two scores.
Over his three seasons in Athens, Georgia posted a 23-12 overall record and earned victories in the 1991 Independence Bowl and the 1993 Citrus Bowl. He earned MVP honors in the Bulldogs' 21-14 victory over Ohio State at the 1993 Citrus Bowl, which capped the season with a No. 8 final national ranking. He helped lead Georgia to a No. 17 final ranking following in 1991, which included a 24-15 win over Arkansas at the Independence Bowl.
Selected with the third overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals, Hearst went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL with the Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos, earning two Pro Bowl selections and being named NFL Comeback Player of the Year twice.
Hearst currently resides in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he serves as a uniform inspector for NFL Operations and remains active in youth sports through coaching and community service. He was named to the SEC Legends Class in 2006 and inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
