EDMOND, OK - One was one of five great offensive linemen for a state runnerup team in Florida while the younger brother was a state best quarterback for a state champion team in Oklahoma.

Now, the brothers George; Nick, a 6'-1", 285 pound senior center at University of Central Oklahoma via Clay High School, and Brandon, an incoming freshman quarterback from 2016 Class 3A champion Jones High School in Jones, OK, will be together for one year of college ball. Brandon George was a standout quarterback for Green Cove Springs Junior High School and a junior varsity standout at Clay before traveling to Oklahoma with his dad, Thomas, who coached quarterback locally in north Florida including Clay High standouts Wes Weeks and Hunter Alexander.

"Brandon, who won the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year as as senior last year after going 15-0, says he came to Central Oklahoma to play behind me," said Nick George, who enters his second season at UCO, after an injury-laden adventure that started with shoulder problems in his senior year at Clay. "I found my way sort of by accident because my dad, Thomas, a retired Navy guy, had an opportunity to do his quarterback coaching with a friend in Oklahoma."

Nick George, a 2014 graduate of Clay, was part of Clay's historic 2013 season that saw the Blue Devils get to the Class 5A championship game via playoff games with legendary outcomes, ended up at Central Oklahoma after shoulder surgeries curtailed his college aspirations from day one.

"Sometimes, I think we Georges have curses on us," said George. "I injured both shoulders at Clay, got accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy where I was on the prep school team, but did not play because of the surgeries," said George, a second team All stater at Clay. "From there, I went to University of Central Florida where the team was 0-10."

George, who left the Air Force Academy as a bad fit, then persevered through the winless season at Central Florida in coach George O'Leary's final season, almost gave football up as he headed back to Oklahoma to watch is brother play high school ball.

"He had a great senior season, then waited too long during the recruiting process and wound up at two different junior colleges; Hutchinson and Iowa State, before deciding on Central Oklahoma," said Nick George. "He broke his collarbone in his first college year so that follows the family tradition. He still has four years of eligibility though."

Brandon George, with a prolific high school senior season (15-0) of 4,035 yards passing with 44 touchdowns in is senior year at Jones plus 1200 yards rushing with 21 more scores, becomes one of two sophomores and two juniors to vye for the quarterback slot at Central Oklahoma.

"I'm hoping to have a chance to snap a ball to him this season," said Nick George. "I don't think Central Oklahoma realizes that we are brothers yet."

A fond memory for his Clay High days for Nick George was the Blue Devils' historic 74-73 region playoff semifinal win Bishop Kenny that propelled Clay into the state championship game.

"Everyone was tired after that one, but we learned a lot about ourselves as players and, as men," said George. "I still stay in touc"

At Central Oklahoma, Nick George was a backup center in 2016 as a redshirt freshman, started 12 games in 2017 and had six starts in eight games in 2018 earning Third Team All Conference (Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association) MIAA. Central Florida averaged 30 points per game with 400 yards of total offense per game.

Central Oklahoma, 8-4 last year, is currently ranked fourth in MIAA preseason polls with Fort Hays State first, Northwest Missouri second and Pittsburg State third. Central Oklahoma's first game is against Pittsburg State.

"We are the fourth winningest NCAA Div. II program while Pittsburg State is number one," said George. "We went 8-4 and won the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl 41-34 over Angelo State."

Central Oklahoma has won two NCAA titles (1962 and 1982) with 10 playoff appearances and 32 conference titles.