Kickoff countdown: Who wore it best? #67

UGASports is counting down the days until the Bulldogs’ 2024 season opener. For each day in our countdown, we will reveal our opinion of the best player in Georgia history to wear that particular jersey number.

UGASports selects Joel Parrish as the best Georgia player to wear jersey number 67.

Position: Offensive Guard

Hometown (High School): Douglas, Georgia (Coffee County)

Height/Weight: 6-4, 250

Lettered: 1974-1976

Career: It was said that Joel Parrish arrived at UGA in 1973 in a pickup truck, a mouth full of Redman, and wearing a 10-gallon hat and cowboy boots. Fittingly nicknamed “Cowboy,” he had been drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers while in high school and signed as a tight end at Georgia. Yet, Parrish was soon moved to the offensive line, where he mastered the drive-block technique, teaming with tackle Mike “Moonpie” Wilson to form, according to head coach Vince Dooley, “the best combination of blockers we’ve ever had side-by-side.” Parrish had the rare combination of size, strength, and 4.7 speed. Despite missing most of his junior season with an injury, he was selected in 1976 as a preseason All-American. Parrish lived up to the billing, receiving consensus All-American status as a senior, and was named the Atlanta TD Club’s SEC Lineman of the Year. He was also a Senior Bowl participant. Although signing with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts shortly following his senior season, Parrish was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in that spring’s NFL draft.

#67 Honorable Mention: OL- Chester Adams (2004-2007); Tackle- Jack Bush (1946-1948)

Highlights of Georgia's 1976 SEC championship season (feature on #67 Parrish around 24:00 mark):