By Thomas Grant Jr.
A pair of Airport Eagle alumnus who became multi Super Bowl champions are “flying” into the S.C. Football Hall of Fame.
Former University of South Carolina running back Duce Staley and former Clemson University defensive end Jim Stuckey are among the five inductees to be honored April 17 at the Hotel Hartness in Greenville.
Other former players and coaches to be enshrined include former University of South Carolina head coach Jim Carlen, former South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough and former NFL Super Bowl champion Troy Brown.
Duce Staley
Staley played two seasons with the Gamecocks after earning National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors at Itawamba Community College. He rushed for 1,852 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 59 passes for 489 yards in earning First-team All-SEC honors.
Drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft by Philadelphia, Staley played there for seven seasons. He then played three seasons with in-state rival Pittsburgh, winning a Super Bowl ring during the 2005 season.
Staley finished his pro playing career with 5,785 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns and 287 receptions for 2,587 yards and 10 touchdowns.
After retiring as a Philadelphia Eagle in 2007, Staley spent 10 seasons with the organization as a special teams quality control and later a running backs coach. He helped the Eagles win the 2017 Super Bowl and was promoted to assistant head coach.
Staley went on to spend two seasons as the running backs coach for the Detroit Lions. He returned to the Carolinas in 2023 where he spent one season as the Panthers’ running backs coach.
He’s currently entering his second season as the running backs coach with the Cleveland Browns.
Jim Stuckey
A middle linebacker and tight end at Airport, Stuckey played four seasons for the Tigers from 1976-79. He twice earned first-team All-Atlantic Conference honors and was named first-team All-American in 1979.
Drafted 20th overall in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, Stuckey made the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie team and recovered a Danny White fumble late in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys.
This started San Francisco on its dynasty run in the 1980s where it won four Super Bowls. Stuckey played on the Super Bowl XVI and XIX winning teams and finished his seven-year career with 18.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Stuckey has spent his post-career as a successful sales executive with an office on Kiaweh Island.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, visit www.scfootballhof.org or email Mike Foster at foster@scfootballhof.org.
You must be logged in to post a comment.