Former Bulldog standout Steve Posey will be on of the inductees in the Andalusia High School Quarterback Club’s 2016 Hall of Fame class at the Hall of Fame Banquet and Installation Ceremony in August.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I don’t deserve this,” Posey said of his reaction when he found out he was selected. “Then I just reflected on the all the players and coaches throughout my career that helped me get tot there.”

Posey was a member of the Andalusia High School football team from 1979-1981, and played for three different head coaches.

“My first high school coach was Don Sharpe,” Posey said. “My sophomore year was his last year coaching, and after he left Rick Rhodes came in for a year. Coach Rhodes left and went to Troy where he eventually won a national championship. Then my senior year Gwin Burkett become the head coach.”

Burkett will also be inducted into the Bulldog HOF this year.

“Coach Burkett was very special to me,” Posey said. “He was my position coach under Sharpe, and everyone thought he deserved the opportunity to become the head coach. I was thrilled when he got that chance, and now to be inducted into the HOF with him, it will be a very special moment for me.”

While playing at Andalusia, Posey played tight end, defensive end and was the team’s punter.

“Tight end was my best position,” Posey said. “That’s the position I got recruited at, and I led the team in receiving in 1980.”

In he senior year at Andalusia, Posey suffered an injury that ended his season around the halfway point.

“My senior year against Ozark, I broke my leg and that closed the book on my playing career at Andalusia,” Posey said. “I think it was about five or six games into the season.”

Despite missing most of the season, Posey was still selected to play of the South in the North vs. South All-Star football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

“That was a good game,” Posey said. “I played defensive end that game and won 3-0. We even had Bo Jackson as our running back and still only scored three points.”

While at Andalusia, Posey said there were several memorable moments over the course of his career.

“There a several memorable moments, but the one that stands out the most was my sophomore year against Opp,” Posey said. “We had six or seven starters get suspended for breaking team rules, and I ended up having to play both ways the whole game. Opp had a very good team that year and we weren’t supposed to beat them, but we came out and won the game. For a young player it was a special moment, that stands out the most to me.”

After graduation, Posey ended up signing with Auburn University in the same class as Jackson.

“I played with great players and for great coaching at Auburn,” Posey said. “I was in the same recruiting class as Bo Jackson, and we also had Kevin Green, who was just recently elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. My first year at Auburn was also the first year that Pat Dye become the head coach. I guess you could say it was a good time to be at Auburn.”

Posey said that playing at Andalusia not only prepared him for college football, but also prepared him for life.

“It taught me that there others that depend on you,” Posey said. “It’s not always about you, sometimes it’s about the guy next to you. It takes hard work to be successful, and football teaches that.”

Posey said his time under the coaches at Andalusia also prepared him for life under Coach Dye at Auburn.

“Coach Dye’s first year at Auburn was brutal,” Posey said. “He was very hard-nosed and tough. It wasn’t quite as bad as the Junction Boys under Paul “Bear” Bryant, but it was pretty brutal. Coach Sharpe was the same way, and playing for him prepared me for playing for Coach Dye.”

The Hall of Fame Banquet and Installation Ceremony is being held on Aug., 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the high school or from any Andalusia Quarterback Club member.

Along with Posey and Burkett, the HOF will induct in Grady Smith, Lynn Shreve and the 1973 Andalusia High School football team.