Former Aquinas Football Star Brendan Douglas was a four-year contributor for the University of Georgia football team and a fan favorite during his collegiate career. Now he is hoping to find success of a different kind in Athens…business success.
Douglas is the new Owner/Operator of the Little Caesars Pizza location at 1063 Baxter St. in Athens, which happens to be less than two miles from Douglas’s old stomping grounds at Sanford Stadium.
I recall hearing about Douglas more than 10 years ago. A friend recommended I check out this freshman at Aquinas who he believed was going to be a stud.
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Well, I already knew the Douglas name. Brendan’s older brother, John, was also a talented football player who had played fullback at Auburn before transferring to Georgia Southern and becoming an All-Conference defensive lineman for the Eagles.
After seeing the younger Douglas in person, it was clear he was a special player. By the time he was approaching his junior campaign, Douglas had established himself as one of the premier players in the area and was starting to attract the attention of college coaches.
What was there not to like? Douglas was a rare combination of speed, power and strength that made him look like a man among boys at times on the high school level. As a junior, he rambled for 1,569 yards and 27 touchdowns on offense, and 146 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense.
Also, he had helped lead an incredible transformation of Aquinas’s football program. He truly led a culture change. Aquinas had only produced a handful of winning seasons in the school’s 52-year history prior to Douglas arriving on campus. He turned them into a serious contender. They made three consecutive playoff appearances during his career and won 18 games over his final two seasons. And there is no doubt that Douglas was instrumental in the school going 14-0 and winning the state championship the year following his graduation. His impact at Aquinas simply cannot be overstated.
Individually Douglas was garnering plenty of notoriety. During his senior season, Douglas rushed for 1,424 yards and 24 touchdowns, seven catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He piled up 155 tackles on defense and averaged more than 42 yards per punt attempt. He hauled in nearly every local individual football honor possible and for the second straight season was named First Team All-State.
Also, word had gotten out on his passion, work ethic, and freakish ability in the weight room. Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech both offered Douglas scholarships. At a muscular 5’11” and 215 pounds, he certainly looked the part of a college athlete, but some schools were hesitant and wondered could he play tailback at a major college level. He chose to commit to Georgia Tech, but he had always dreamed of playing for Georgia, so when a call came just two weeks before National Signing Day and on the other line was an offer the wear the Red and Black, Douglas jumped at the chance.
Despite joining a Georgia team loaded with talented running backs, Douglas wasted little time in proving his worth. He rushed for 345 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries as a true freshman. He also caught 13 passes for 172 yards and another score that season. With other backs like Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michael (all playing currently in the NFL) on the UGA roster, Douglas’s playing time was limited, but when called upon he always rose to the occasion and made himself a key part of the team each of his four seasons in Athens.
Whether it was the “15 Yard Flip” at Missouri or plowing over a Gator Defender versus Florida, Douglas played with a swashbuckling reckless abandon that endeared him to the UGA Faithful. Yes, there is no doubt Douglas was a “Damn Good Dawg.”
When his playing days in Athens were over, Douglas briefly considered pro ball but chose to take a position with Raymond James Financial in Wealth Management. After about a year, Douglas decided to make a change, realizing that he did not want to work in that field for the rest of his life. He then took a position with Chick-fil-A, where he stayed for two years. While he has moved on from those two stops, Douglas is confident those years helped prepare him for this venture.
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“There is no doubt I learned a great deal from two of the best companies out there,” said Douglas. However, there is no hiding the fact that he is thrilled to be back in Athens. “My business partner, Travis Butler, actually approached me with the idea and thought it was a good opportunity. He is a UGA Alumnus and owns Butler Properties in Athens. The more I looked into it, the more I knew it was the right move,” added the former Aquinas star.
For those who know Douglas well, he was destined for success in whatever he chose to pursue. His former head coach at Aquinas, Matt Lezotte, certainly is not surprised. Lezotte, himself a former prep and college standout QB and now the head coach at Richmond Hill High School, saw the fire in Douglas early on.
“I have been doing this a long time, and I have no doubt there is a direct correlation with working hard and pushing yourself in athletics and that carrying over in your personal and professional life,” said Lezotte. “The kids who slack off and do not push themselves in the weight room seem to do the same thing in other areas. Well, Brendan definitely never shied away from hard work, and that is why I have no doubt he will be a success with this venture and anything else he chooses to do,” added his former coach.
And now, after extensive renovations, Douglas is prepared for a grand re-opening of Little Caesars on Baxter Street this on Jan. 18. If you are in Athens and feeling a little hungry, stop by and grab some pizza…you just may run into ole #22.
Ashley Brown covers sports for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Ashley.brown@theaugustapress.com
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