Fannin County Sports Hall Of Fame Class of 2024

Geoffrey Daves: Anchored the offensive line

  • Both his grandfather and father had been firefighters and Geoffrey had long felt the desire to follow in their footsteps. A young Geoffrey Daves sits with his father, Jerry Daves, for a firefighter photo shoot.
    Both his grandfather and father had been firefighters and Geoffrey had long felt the desire to follow in their footsteps. A young Geoffrey Daves sits with his father, Jerry Daves, for a firefighter photo shoot.
  • A young Geoffrey Daves stands ready. He began his football career with the Fannin Recreation League.
    A young Geoffrey Daves stands ready. He began his football career with the Fannin Recreation League.
  • Geoffrey Daves fighting in the trenches at Fannin High. Geoffrey says he did occasionally allow his competitive side to appear toiling in the trenches as a younger man.
    Geoffrey Daves fighting in the trenches at Fannin High. Geoffrey says he did occasionally allow his competitive side to appear toiling in the trenches as a younger man.
  • Geoffrey Daves and Bryant Meeks walk off the field after a game at Fannin High. Geoffrey played offensive line with his cousin, Logan Daves and Meeks.
    Geoffrey Daves and Bryant Meeks walk off the field after a game at Fannin High. Geoffrey played offensive line with his cousin, Logan Daves and Meeks.
  • Standing on the field at Fannin High for senior night are, father, Jerry Daves, Geoffrey Daves and mother, Rhonda Daves.
    Standing on the field at Fannin High for senior night are, father, Jerry Daves, Geoffrey Daves and mother, Rhonda Daves.
  • Geoffrey returned home after one season at Averitt to pursue his dream of becoming a professional firefighter. His family stands together supporting him, from left, mother, Rhonda Daves; father, Jerry Daves; Geoffrey Daves; wife, April Daves; and son, Payton Daves.
    Geoffrey returned home after one season at Averitt to pursue his dream of becoming a professional firefighter. His family stands together supporting him, from left, mother, Rhonda Daves; father, Jerry Daves; Geoffrey Daves; wife, April Daves; and son, Payton Daves.
  • Geoffrey studied in an EMT program at North Georgia College and joined the Gilmer County EMT and Rescue in 2018. Geoffrey Daves holds son, Payton Daves, beside his wife, April Daves.
    Geoffrey studied in an EMT program at North Georgia College and joined the Gilmer County EMT and Rescue in 2018. Geoffrey Daves holds son, Payton Daves, beside his wife, April Daves.

    By Mike Harper

    Special to The News Observer

    “He’s the best center I have ever coached. His work ethic is second to none.” These are the words that Fannin County High School head football coach Clark Drennan used to describe 2024 Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Geoffrey Daves. Geoffrey was the starting center for the Rebel grid squads from the opening game of the 2007 season through the 2008 season finale, a total of 21 games. He anchored an offensive line that also included his cousin Logan Daves and Bryant Meeks, two young men who were  inducted into the Hall of Fame as members of the 2023 induction class. It was a formidable group that led their teams to a 9-2 record and region championship in 2007 and a 7-3 record in 2008.

    Geoffrey also won varsity letters at Fannin for his performances in the 2005 and 2006 campaigns, performing flawlessly as the long snapper for both of those teams. After joining the starting team, Geoffrey was named the Rebels’ offensive lineman of the year in 2007 and 2008. He earned the offensive player of the week five times during his junior and senior seasons and made the all-region team as a senior. Geoffrey graded out at 85.3 % blocking efficiency as a senior with grades above 90% in four games. Coach Drennan, who coached Daves during his entire high school career, added that “Geoffrey has made some of the best blocks we’ve ever seen in Fannin County High School. He never quit, even when things were going bad”.

    Geoffrey began playing sports at age 4 when he competed for a local ‘tee’ ball team. Before the age of 8, he played competitive baseball, basketball, soccer and football. He began his football career at the age of 8 with the 10U team in the Fannin Recreation League. Before playing for Coach Drennan in high school, Geoffrey and his father Jerry give credit to Rec League coach Jimmy ‘Dog’ Guinn for helping Geoffrey learning how to play the game of football. Guinn was an outstanding player himself, with Copper Basin High School teams of the early and mid-1960s. An all-around athletic young man, Geoffrey also competed in wrestling and golf during his time at Fannin High School.

    A soft-spoken, courteous man, Geoffrey does occasionally allow his competitive side to appear when he talks about his days toiling in the trenches as a younger man. He admits that he was guilty of talking a little smack to his opponents early in games. Fannin High  ran a triple-option offense during the Drennan years and Geoffrey confesses that he was prone to telling his opposite numbers that “we are going to run the ball down your throats five yards at a time until we score”. That prophecy often turned into a reality. Asked about his biggest thrills at Fannin, Geoffrey points to the 2007 region championship and four consecutive victories over arch-rival Gilmer County as high water marks.

    After completing his stay at Fannin County High School, Geoffrey Daves was awarded a football scholarship to attend Averitt University, a Division III school in Danville, Virginia. At 6’, 1”, 285 pounds, he did not have the height that Division I schools sought in filling offensive line positions. Geoffrey stayed at Averitt for one season before returning home to pursue his dream of becoming a professional firefighter. Both his grandfather and father had been firefighters and Geoffrey had long felt the desire to follow in their footsteps. He studied in an EMT program at North Georgia College and joined Gilmer County EMS and Rescue in 2018. Geoffrey, his wife April and young son Payton live near Ducktown,  Tennessee, a 40 minute drive south to the front door of the fire hall in Ellijay.