Caleb Lewallen Inducted Into Habersham Central 2026 Ring of Honor

Former Habersham Central offensive lineman Caleb Lewallen says being inducted into the Habersham Central Ring of Honor was something he never truly saw coming — even if others around him may have sensed it before he did.

“It was really a surprise to me,” Lewallen said. “Dad had kind of mentioned last year that I missed out on it by a couple votes or something, but I just didn’t put two and two together at the time.”

Lewallen was among the newest inductees honored during the 2026 Habersham Central Ring of Honor ceremony, joining a class that also included former South Habersham quarterback Keith York, standout quarterback Kevin Ellison and longtime coach Gene Cathcart.

Lewallen played for Habersham Central from 2003 through 2006 under Cathcart, who himself was inducted during this year’s ceremony.

“It was pretty cool,” Lewallen said of seeing his former coach honored alongside him. “I don’t think I’d really seen him since he left Habersham.”

During his playing days, Lewallen anchored the Raiders’ offensive line, rotating between left and right guard throughout his career.

From 2003 through 2006, Lewallen was a three-year letterman who appeared in 38 total games during his Habersham Central career. He started four games as a freshman before later being voted team captain during his senior season.

Lewallen was also recognized multiple times for his play in the trenches, earning the team’s “Hog of the Week” honor during both his junior and senior years.

His accomplishments extended beyond Habersham County as well. Lewallen was selected to participate in the North/South National High School All-Star Football Game and helped lead the Raiders to two playoff appearances, including a region championship during the 2006 season.

Former Habersham Central assistant coach Chris Warbington said Lewallen was part of a special offensive line group that helped shape the success of those mid-2000s Raider teams.

“Caleb was the third member of that particular offensive line that’s been inducted,” Warbington said. “He was always kind of the caretaker of everyone and kind of the leader. He didn’t talk a whole lot, but he’d grunt at them and they’d cool it or whatever, pick it up.”

Warbington described the 2006 offensive line as one of the best in the state that season.

“That group was definitely, in my opinion and many other people’s opinion, one of the best offensive lines in the state that year in 2006,” Warbington said. “And we had a great deal of success because of that group.”

When reflecting on his favorite memories at Habersham Central, Lewallen pointed to two games in particular — a playoff battle against Cherokee County and a memorable victory over Clarke Central during his senior season.

Lewallen recalled the Cherokee County playoff game as one of the best performances of his career, earning praise from teammates and coaches during the team’s offensive line grading sessions.

But it was the 28-21 victory over Clarke Central in 2006 that still stands out emotionally.

“That game was just fun because we ran like eight plays the entire night, and they just could not stop us,” Lewallen said.

According to Lewallen, the victory marked the first time Habersham Central defeated Clarke Central on its home field.

Warbington vividly remembers the tension late in that game after Clarke Central returned a punt for a touchdown to pull within three points entering the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-three deep in their own territory, the Raiders decided to keep the ball in the hands of their offensive line and running backs rather than punt again.

“We went for it on fourth-and-three on our own 30,” Warbington recalled. “We got about 15 yards on the play, and then we didn’t punt again. We scored with 32 seconds left and wound up beating them in a great game.”

The longtime coach believes that game helped cement the community’s belief in Habersham Central’s physical, run-heavy identity.

“I think the community really started to believe in what we were doing,” Warbington said. “The crowd would get mad when we threw the ball. That’s the opposite of everywhere else.”

Ring of Honor chairman Ricky Kimsey described Lewallen as a “terrific football player” whose contributions extended beyond statistics.

“His dad has been a Ring of Honor inductee for a number of years,” Kimsey said. “That kid was an offensive lineman … and was a terrific football player in high school and college, and he was very special.”

Long before anchoring Habersham Central’s offensive line, Lewallen also found success on the wrestling mat.

As a 13-year-old eighth grader at South Habersham Middle School, Lewallen qualified for the USA Georgia State Wrestling Championships after winning a qualifying tournament at Sequoyah High School. He later finished third in the state in the 220-pound weight class during the championships held at Parkview High School.

The accomplishment came during just his second year competing in wrestling.

Lewallen graduated with the Habersham Central Class of 2007 and later attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.

Despite the individual recognition, Lewallen was quick to credit the teammates and players who inspired him throughout his football career.

“A bunch of those guys, especially Brandon Pruitt and the guys that were just a couple years older than me, I always looked up to them,” Lewallen said. “They were the names we always heard on the radio.”

Lewallen also reflected on the special family connection to the Ring of Honor. His father, Ronald Lewallen, was inducted years earlier, creating a unique bond between generations of Raiders football.

Still, when asked about his favorite image from his playing days, Lewallen didn’t mention an individual accolade or highlight moment.

Instead, he remembered the offensive line running onto the field together before games.

“It wasn’t me,” Lewallen said. “It was our entire offensive line and that entire team that gave this as a possibility.”