SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was among 15 new inductees announced by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame on Monday in the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame class.
The inductees were selected from the national ballot of 76 All-American players, six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks. The announcement was made live on ESPN's "SportsCenter" from Santa Clara, Calif., the site of Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game between Alabama and Clemson.
McFadden ranks second on the career Southeastern Conference career rushing list with 4,590 yards, averaging 120.8 yards per game during his three-year career, third-best in league history. He rushed for 100 yards or more a school-record 22 times, and is one of only three players in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.
His 321 yards against South Carolina in 2007 remains tied for the SEC record for rushing yards in a game. He capped his Arkansas campaign with 41 rushing touchdowns, good for second-most in school history.
McFadden was a two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and was named the 2007 Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News. He received 25 first-team All-America honors, including six Freshman All-American selections, won the Doak Walker Award twice and was a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He is the only Razorback in program history to win multiple national awards in his career.
"Growing up in Arkansas, my dream was to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks," McFadden said in a statement Monday. "To be able to do that and now to be recognized with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame is something I couldn't have imagined.
"I'm so grateful to my family, coach Houston Nutt and my many other coaches, Dean Weber, my teammates and everyone in the Razorback nation for supporting me throughout my collegiate and professional career. When I look at the others who have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, including many from the University of Arkansas, I am truly honored and humbled to be included in such a distinguished group."
McFadden and the other inductees in the 2019 class will be recognized on Dec. 10 in New York during the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner before they are enshrined in Atlanta. Inductees will also be recognized at their respective institutions during the fall.
The other dozen former players in the class of 2019 are Terrell Buckley, Florida State defensive back from 1989-91; Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma defensive back from 1984-87; London Fletcher, John Carroll linebacker from 1995-97; Jacob Green, Texas A&M defensive lineman from 1977-79; Torry Holt, N.C. State receiver from 1995-98; Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame returner and receiver from 1988-90; Jake Plummer, Arizona State quarterback from 1993-96; Troy Polamalu, USC defensive back from 1999-2002; Joe Thomas, Wisconsin offensive lineman from 2003-06; Lorenzo White, Michigan State running back from 1984-87; Patrick Willis, Ole Miss linebacker from 2003-06; and Vince Young, Texas quarterback from 2003-05.
Coaches in the class include Dennis Erickson, who was 179-96-1 for a 65-percent winning percentage, and Joe Taylor, who was 233-96-4, 70.6 percent. Erickson coached at Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami, Oregon State and Arizona State between 1982-2011. Taylor coached at Howard, Virginia Union, Hampton and Florida A&M between 1983-2012.
"We are extremely proud to announce the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi.
"Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments. The Class will be part of a momentous year as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of college football this season."
The College Football Hall of Fame includes 1,010 players and 219 coaches from 311 schools. The first class in 1951 featured 32 players and 22 coaches, including Illinois' Red Grange, Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Jim Thorpe.
McFadden is the ninth player in school history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The program features 20 Hall of Famers with 11 coaches inducted.
Previous players inducted were linebacker Ronnie Caveness in 2010, linebacker Wayne Harris in 2004, linebacker Billy Ray Smith Jr. in 2000, receiver Chuck Dicus in 1999, defensive lineman Loyd Phillips in 1992, receiver Lance Alworth in 1984, running back and defensive back Clyde Scott in 1971 and receiver Wear Schoonover in 1967.
Previous Razorback coaches inducted were Danny Ford in 2017, Jimmy Johnson in 2012, Loy Holtz in 2008, Tracy Rocker in 2004, Doug Dickey and Hayden Fry in 2003, Barry Switzer in 2001, Boyden Wyatt in 1997, Johnny Majors in 1987, Frank Broyles in 1983 and Hugo Bezdek in 1954.
"Darren McFadden is not only a Razorback great, he is a college football legend," said Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek. "It is fitting that he will soon be inducted alongside the greatest players and coaches of all time in the College Football Hall of Fame.
"From his All-America career at the University of Arkansas to his decade-long NFL tenure with both the Raiders and the Cowboys, Darren McFadden has always represented his home state proudly and given us all plenty to cheer about. We are excited to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment with him throughout the upcoming year."
Player nominees are required to have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization. They become eligible for consideration by the Foundation's honors courts 10 full seasons after their final year of college football played.
McFadden last played for Arkansas on Jan. 1, 2008, in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, playing seven seasons in Oakland and finishing his career with three seasons in Dallas.
Each nominee's "post football record" is also weighed. McFadden has volunteered for events with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Salvation Army, Special Olympics and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
The Little Rock native also visits local hospitals and helped with disaster relief in North Dallas, where he now lives after retiring from the NFL. He is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and was named an SEC Legend in 2018.
McFadden is also the Razorbacks' all-time leader with 5,881 career all-purpose yards, which also ranks second in conference history. He led Arkansas to the 2006 SEC West division title, two bowl berths and a No. 15 final ranking in 2006.
Sports on 01/08/2019