It is one thing to watch an underdog story, but the uniqueness takes on a different level of appreciation when you have a relationship with the underdog.
I would have never guessed in years that a humorous conversation that involved ‘a pound of cake,’ would transform into arguably the best recruit in the 2026 cycle. He looks at me as his uncle across the state line; however, he is the one that motivates me. He is a man of faith; nevertheless, one should not confuse his relationship with Christ as him being soft.
When he hits the field, a new character comes out — one that was birthed out of intensity and determination.
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Andrew Duggan is entering his senior season at Cleveland (Tenn.) High School as a center for a second straight year. Many have looked at his size, 6’0″ and 245 pounds, and say there is no way he dominates players that are taller and weight more than him.
For Duggan, there is more than meets the eye.
Action snatches your eyes, brain, and throat upon watching Duggan’s highlight film. His ability to lock defensive linemen with his hands, finish plays with force — planting opposition on their bottom — and show brute physicality has college coaches wanting to know more about him.
JR SZN. RUN BLOCK ONLY🥞🥞🥞. 1st season ever playing center. Trying to be the best ‘26 center in the state of TN. QBs stay clean, and holes up the middle.😤😤#TrenchWarfare @SCullOT @JuliusTrenches @BigSkippin_75 @CoachDaniels06 @RecruitNE_GA @BGrubbs66 pic.twitter.com/xrAbWIsmQ0
— Andrew Duggan (@AndrewDugganFB) May 16, 2025
He wants to do more than just embarrass opponents, Duggan wants the parents and grandparents of the opponent and every college coach to know he dominated. In a age of college football operated by the transfer portal and NIL (name, image, and likeness), Duggan is a breath of fresh air in desiring the best education and wanting to play football for the love of it.
JR SZN. PASS BLOCK ONLY🛑. 1st season ever playing center. Trying to be the best ‘26 center in the state of TN. Difference between playing center and being a true center.#TrenchWarfare @SCullOT @JuliusTrenches @BigSkippin_75 @CoachDaniels06 @RecruitNE_GA pic.twitter.com/u08TUEfnUA
— Andrew Duggan (@AndrewDugganFB) May 16, 2025
In a recent interview with Duggan, he shared the importance of changing the trajectory of his family by going to college.
“For me to have the opportunity to be the first one in my family to go to college, it is special,” Duggan said. “I have a chance to go to college on a scholarship and really change my family.”
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Ricky Green, Duggan’s father, has been his rock throughout this life. Green has been an incredible friend to me, but he has meant everything to Duggan in his process of playing football and becoming a man.
“He is my foundation,” Duggan said about Green. “Every time when I started to second guess myself, he has always been in my corner.”
Football started as a game of fun and a hobby for Duggan, but something caused the sport to mean more to him as he got older. Several names such as Rudy Griffin, Nick Gentry, Willie Lampkin, and others took being called “too small” as a challenge. Lampkin, in particular, is basically the same height as Duggan — 5’11” — but he made it to the National Football League as a guard from Coastal Carolina and North Carolina. He was not selected in the recent NFL Draft, but Lampkin got picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams.
Lampkin was a first-team All-American, Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, and first-team All-ACC honoree in 2024 at North Carolina. Duggan possesses the same traits as Lampkin and credits his high school teammates for unleashing the intense beast.
“My teammates would tell me, ‘you are not going to go to college. You are too small,'” Duggan said. “I had to play like I am big enough.”
People would bring up his size, but Duggan responds by silencing critics and having the most intriguing recruitment process. He started to believe he could be a dominant center in his junior season, but the “David” amongst goliaths has an aspect that coaches crave: intensity.
“It comes down to either you or me,” Duggan said about facing opponents. “And you are not going to dominate me.”
Damion Square, a former Alabama defensive lineman, was notorious for his statement “Imma choke his a** out from the snap to the whistle” in a hype video for the Tide. He’s now a coach on Scott Cochran’s staff at the University of West Alabama, but Duggan plays with the mindset Square spoke on.
“I want coaches to see the intensity and aggressiveness I play with,” Duggan said. “From the moment the ball is snapped to the whistle blows, coaches know that I am doing something.”
He has the fire, technique, and determination, but the area Duggan wants to strengthen in his final high school season is being a vocal leader. His underdog story has focused on him leading by example, yet he understands that his teammates need his voice to be loud in the room.
“My goal is to push everyone to be at their best, no matter what it takes,” Duggan said.
He knows different teammates have a different button that must be pressed for them to push toward excellence. Duggan looks forward to make sure each player is going at a high standard.
He is big on family, his faith drives everything, but Duggan knows football is his God-given avenue to help him be at his best. He watches tape on William Campbell, a former standout at Louisiana State University. Campbell, an offensive tackle, was selected at No. 4 overall in the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He was a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree, a Consensus All-American, and a Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner for the SEC.
Duggan models his kick sets and ability to latch on to defensive linemen from Campbell.
This season is the last ride for Duggan in high school, but major division one college coaches need to look harder at him. He brings everything needed to start a program around.
Duggan is the most impressive underdog story of the 2026 recruiting class.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and writer for The Bama Standard. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
