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- Bulldog Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Announced
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Posted on July 30, 2024
CORSICANA, Tx – Navarro College's Bulldog Hall of Fame will add seven members in its Class of 2024 when induction occurs during a luncheon Saturday, September 21 at the Cook Education Center.
The honorees from five sports feature four NJCAA and two NCAA All-Americans, a first-round
NFL draft pick and an MLB second rounder, an Arena Football League legend, and another
who drove his Bulldogs the extra mile for more than two decades.
Navarro College Executive Director of Student Services and Director of Athletics Michael
Landers introduced the new class during a press conference Tuesday on the Navarro
Sports YouTube Channel.
Deeanna Williams King, Softball (1998-2000) The team RBI leader on a memorable first Navarro team that
won the Region XIV Championship and qualified for the NJCAA Tournament. She transferred
to the University of Texas where she earned All-Big XII honors.
Jess Todd, Baseball (2005-2006) A 2007 second-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Todd compiled
a 9-2 record with a 1.42 earned-run average in his only Navarro season. Regarded by
many as Navarro's best all-time pitcher, Todd transferred to The University of Arkansas,
where he earned All-SEC Tournament.
Hernandez James "Hunkie" Cooper, Football (1989-1990) Versatile, multi-talented Cooper starred at every level – from
Palestine Westwood High School to Navarro, to UNLV, to a legendary Arena Football
League career with the Arizona Rattlers. Cooper quarterbacked Navarro to its first
NJCAA Championship in 1989. He earned NCAA All-American honors at UNLV, where he
played as many as six different positions in games. An Arena Football League Hall
of Famer after 13 seasons, the league MVP (1993) and Ironman Award Winner (1999 and
2000) is the AFL's all-purpose yardage leader (20,587 yards).
DeAndre Brown, Basketball (2007-2009) The NJCAA first team All-American led Navarro to the Region
XIV Tournament Championship and its first appearance at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson,
KS. The first team All-Region XIV and Tournament MVP ranks top five in single season
and career scoring at Navarro College.
Carolina Barbosa, Volleyball (2016-2018) The middle hitter from Rio de Janeiro was Navarro Volleyball's
first NJCAA All-American in 2017 when she led the Bulldogs to a 27-12 record and the
Region XIV Tournament Semifinals. The first team all-conference and all-region player
ranks among Navarro's Top 5 statistically in kills, attacks and scoring.
Derek Sherrard "DJ" Hayden, Football (2009-2010) – Hayden played cornerback on Navarro teams that went 22-2
with a pair of SWJCFC Championships and the 2010 NJCAA Championship. Hayden played
shutdown corner at The University of Huston and was selected by the Oakland Raiders
in the first round of the 2013 draft. He later played with the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville
Jaguars, and Washington Redskins. Hayden passed away as a result of a traffic collision
in Houston on November 11, 2023.
Cassias Phillips, Community, (2003-2024) "Cash," as he is known, was an 'unofficial' member of the
athletics team for 21 years, while he was assigned to the maintenance department as
a bus driver at Navarro College. More than a bus driver and a caretaker, he epitomizes
everything about being a Navarro Bulldog. He has driven more miles and attended more
games than the entire coaching staff, while supporting student-athletes in every sports
program.