Fairmont Heights High School Salutes the 75 All-Time Greatest Football Players

Photo credit Teddy Cash

August 2, 2025 (Greenbelt, MD)

By Ron Harris – Lots of young men play high school football. Usually, most of them never step on a field after that. Years go by and the accomplishments of these players has long been forgotten.

But not by the Fairmont Heights Football Alumni Association, Inc., led by Founder and President Carlos Prillman. One of only 31 high school football alumni associations in the United States. For the 5^th year, Prillman and his board of directors select a Hall of Fame class. This year, the Association is recognizing the top 75 players and 7 coaches in the 75-year history of Fairmont Heights high school football going back to the 1950’s. Using the National Football League’s model of their all-time century team, the FHFAA uses an electronically voted on system by active players. The chosen players are considered the best players to ever play football at Fairmont Heights high school, located in the iconic Prince George’s County in the state of Maryland.

Top 75 player, Kojo Achampong, class of 1996, “I felt excited when I got the call. With the rich tradition of talent at Fairmont Heights, to be among the best 75 is an honor.” Achampong was a swift 160 lb. running back that also played linebacker. “My father came to my first game and never came back. He said I was too violent. People thought because of my size that I would fold like a folding chair, but I folded them like a chair.” Achampong made All-County and All Met.

Honoree, Napoleon Queen, class of 1988, played Quarterback and he had influence on legendary coach Ralph Paden. A man who ran a tight ship. “I think I was coach Paden’s problem child at times. He would always get on my case. He would say, ‘son run the play as it was called’, and I would say, but coach I am your eyes on the field and if I see the linebackers inside the box, I think we should run outside.” Coach Paden was hard, but he was no fool. “Coach started lightening up a little and started asking me what I saw, and we developed a chemistry.” The Hornets had a 7-game winning streak with Queen at QB.

Offensive center, Miquel Smith, class of 1982, anchored a line that was small but quick. “We were before the time when centers called formations at the line of scrimmage. We blocked for the play that was called.” Smith was a170 lb. center. He gives a lot of credit to Skip Hudson, his offensive line coach at the time and the Hall of Fame running backs he blocked for. “We have two guards and a tackle in the Hall of Fame from our line, so we could kill them running or passing. Coach Paden said let’s make the football game a track meet. We played tough schools in DC and all over. I remember playing Phelps High School in DC and they had these 300 lb. linemen, but they were slow and before they knew it, we were 10 yards down the field. We were one of Paden’s first championship teams in the AB division of Prince George’s County. One game from the states.”

The FHFAA also gives out scholarships to Fairmont Heights students with deserving GPAs, as well as financial assistance to needy families. This organization is community involved to the highest degree.

Photo credit Mario Williams

Several dignitaries were in attendance, including the new Prince George’s County Chief of Police, who stayed for the entire program and seemed to really enjoy himself. These 75 players and 7 coaches will go down in history as the greatest players and coaches in the history of Fairmont Heights high school football, including President of the association, Carlos Prillman, class of 1987.

Carlos Prillman – President FHFAA

The Fairmont Heights Football Alumni Association, Inc. serves the athletic and academic needs of Fairmont Heights High School: The football program, school (students and teachers) and community (parents and local supporters). Click here to learn more about the Fairmont Heights Football Alumni Association.

Ron Harris, retired college administrator, coach, broadcaster, Internet and TV sports producer and host. Former radio host of a live call-in show. Extremely close to the sports landscape in the Washington, DC metro area. Former radio sports reporter, covering MLB, college sports, major boxing events and much more.