Yesterday, the College Football Hall of Fame Championship was decided when the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies to win the National Championship, but as often, our focus with this day, ais the announcement of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
Selected were:
Players:
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, Wide Receiver, 2009-11. Blackmon was the second player to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top Wide Receiver twice in a row (2010-11). Finishing fifth in Heisman voting in 2010, Blackmon was the first receiver to win the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, in a season that he amassed 1,782 Yards and 20 Touchdowns. Totalling 3,584 Yards in 40 TDs over his three seasons with the Cowboys, Blackmon played two years in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Paul Cameron, UCLA, Tailback, 1951-53. Cameron was a three-time all-conference player, who was sixth in Heisman voting in 1952, and third in 1953. A versatile player, Cameron excelled at all aspects as offense, and was solid as a Defensive Back. He would play briefly for the Pittsburgh Steelers before playing three years in the Canadian Football League with the B.C. Lions.
Tim Couch, Kentucky, Quarterback, 1996-98. Couch was the 1998 SEC Player of the Year while also finishing fourth for the Heisman. A back-to-back Davey O’Brien Award Finalist, Couch threw for then SEC record 4,275 Yards, and compiled 8,435 Yards and 74 Touchdowns with the Wildcats. He was later the number one pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns where he played until 2003.
Warrick Dunn, Florida State, Running Back, 1993-96. Dunn was the first Seminole to rush for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, and had 3,959 Rushing Yards and 5,321 All-Purpose Yards with the Seminoles. He also was fifth in Heisman voting in 1996. Dunn, went on to have a long career in the NFL (Tampa Bay and Atlanta) where he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Walter Payton Man of the Year and earned three Pro Bowls.
Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Quarterback, 2006-09. Edwards was a four-time All-American, who was the first player in Division I to throw for more than 10,000 Yards and rush for more than 4,000. He later played four years in the NFL (Carolina and Cleveland), and later played in the CFL, winning a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts.
Deon Figures, Colorado, Cornerback, 1988 & 1990-92. Figures won the Jim Thorpe Award, Jack Tatum Award and the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, and helped the Buffaloes win three Big Eight Championships. Recording 13 Interceptions in Colorado, figures would become a First Round Draft Pick and played for Pittsburgh and Jacksonville.
Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, Wide Receiver, 2003-03. Fitzgerald made history in 2003 as the first sophomore to win the Walter Camp Player pf the Year in the same season he was also the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. In his two seasons as a Panther, he caught 167 passes for 2,677 Yards and 34 Touchdowns. Professionally, he played 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, won the Walter Payton Man of the Year, recorded 17,492 Yards and is a future first ballot of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Toby Gerhart, Stanford, Running Back, 2006-09. In 2009, Gerhart won the Doak Walker Award, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, and was the Heisman runner-up off of a 1,871 Yard/28 TD campaign. Gerhart rushed for 3,522 Yards and 44 TDs overall with the Cardinal, and would play professionally for Minnesota and Jacksonville.
Dan Hampton, Arkansas, Defensive Tackle, 1975-78. The 1978 SWC Defensive Player of the Year was part of some of the best Razorbacks teams of all-time. Hampton later won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears, and was a 2002 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Steve Hutchinson, Michigan, Offensive Guard, 1997-00. Converting from the Defensive Line, Hutchinson was the 2000 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and became a First Round Pick. Playing for Seattle, Minnesota and Tennessee, Hutchinson went to seven Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Antonio Langham, Alabama, Cornerback, 1990-93. A major part of the Crimson Tide’s National Championship in 1992, the three-time All-SEC selection won both the Jim Thorpe Award and Jack Tatum Award in 1993. Still holding Alabama’s record for Interceptions with 19, he played seven years in the NFL with stops in Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco and New England.
Randy Moss, Marshall, Wide Receiver, 1996-97. An All-American in both of his years at Marshall, Moss won the coveted Biletnikoff Award in 1997, and was fourth in Heisman voting. With the Thundering Herd, Moss had 54 Touchdowns with 3,539 Yards, and went on to become the most exciting Wide Receivers in NFL history, earning six Pro Bowls, four First Team All-Pros, and an Offensive Rookie of the Year. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, and was named to the 100th Anniversary All-Anniversary Team.
Julius Peppers, North Carolina, Defensive End, 1999-01. In his final season at UNC, Peppers won the Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bill Willis Trophy while recording 30.5 Sacks overall with the Tar Heels. Peppers went on to have a phenomenal NFL career, playing for Carolina, Chicago and Green Bay and was named to nine Pro Bowls, and two All-Decade Teams. He is up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Finalist this year, and should go two-for-two.
Paul Posluszny, Penn State, Linebacker, 2003-06. One of only two-time winners of the Chuck Bednarik Award (2005 & 2006), the former captain of the Nittany Lions was also the 2005 Butkus Award winner. He also made school history as the first player to record three 100-tackle seasons. Posluszny went to play 11 seasons in the NFL, split between Buffalo and Jacksonville.
Dewey Selmon, Oklahoma, Nose Guard, 1972-75. Selmon was a two-time All-American who helped the Sooners win back-to-back championships in 1974 and 1975, and in the two years previous finish #2 and #3. Twice an All-Big Eight Selection, Selmon had 325 Tackles and would have a seven-year career in the NFL with Tampa Bay and San Diego.
Alex Smith, Utah, Quarterback, 2002-04. Smith went 21-1 as a starter for the Utes and would lead his school to two MWC Titles (2003 & 2004). He was named the 2004 MVC Offensive Player of the Year was also fourth in Heisman voting. Professionally, he had a long career, playing for San Francisco, Kansas City and Washington.
Kevin Smith, Texas A&M, Cornerback, 1988-91. Smith was a three-time First Team SWC Selection, and had 20 Interceptions with the Aggies. He played eight years with Dallas, winning three Super Bowls.
Chris Ward, Ohio State, Offensive Tackle, 1974-77. A two-time All-American, Ward was on Buckeyes squads that finished #3, #4, #4 and #1 respectively. He later played eight years in the NFL with the New York Jets, New Orleans, Miami and San Francisco.
Danny Woodhead, Chadron State, Running Back, 2004-07. Arguably the best player in school history, Woodhead was a three-time All-American, two-time Division II MVP and three-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Year. Professionally, he played for the New York Jets, New England, San Diego and Baltimore.
Coaches:
Mark Dantonio, 132-74. Cincinnati 2004-06, Michigan State 2007-19. Dantonio was twice the Big Ten Coach of the Year, and led the Spartans to six Bowl wins.
Danny Hale, 213-69-1, West Chester 1984-88, Bloomsburg 1993-2012. Hale won 11 PSAC Titles and was the AFCA District I Coach of the Year nine times.
Frank Solich, 173-101, Nebraska 1998-2003, Ohio 2005-20. Solich’s 115 Wins give him the most in MAC history, and he led the Bobcats to four MAC East Division Titles.
We here at Notinhalloffame.co would like to congratulate the members of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
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