Jan. 20, 2021

NFF Announces Illustrious 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class

The NFF announced the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class on Jan. 11 during "SportsCenter" on ESPN.

2021 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS PLAYERS: Harris Barton – OT, North Carolina (1983-86) David Fulcher – DB, Arizona State (1983-85) Dan Morgan – LB, Miami [FL] (1997-2000) Carson Palmer – QB, Southern California (1998-2002) Tony Romo – QB, Eastern Illinois (1999-2002) Kenneth Sims – DT, Texas (1978-81) C.J. Spiller – RB/KR, Clemson (2006-09) Darren Sproles – RB, Kansas State (2001-04) Aaron Taylor – OT, Notre Dame (1990-93) Andre Tippe – DE, Iowa (1979-81) Al Wilson – LB, Tennessee (1995-98)

COACHES: Rudy Hubbard – 83-48-3 (63.1%); Florida A&M (1974-85) Bob Stoops – 190-48-0 (79.8%); Oklahoma (1999-2016)

The 11 First Team All-America players and two standout coaches in the 2021 Class were selected from the national ballot of 78 players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and the 99 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.

The 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 7 alongside the 2020 Hall of Fame Class (the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19).

The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and each inductee will receive a custom ring created by Jostens, the official and exclusive supplier of NFF rings and awards.

"With two College Football Hall of Fame classes, the NFF Annual Awards Dinner will prove to be one of the biggest events in the NFF's history when it returns this December," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are beyond excited to announce the 2021 electees and look forward to making induction worth the wait for the 2020 class."

The announcement of the 2021 Class was made on Jan. 11 during the Noon ET edition of "SportsCenter" on ESPN. Coach Bob Stoops joined the broadcast to discuss being part of the newly announced class. Memphis QB Brady White Awarded NFF's 31st William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda

The NFF announced that University of Memphis quarterback Brady White has been named the 31st recipient of The William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda.

The Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda ranks as one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. The 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy comes with a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Mazda became the presenting sponsor of the Campbell Trophy® in September 2019.

The personification of success on and off the field, White became Memphis' all-time leading passer this season while pursuing a doctorate.

A grad transfer, White graduated cum laude with a 3.58 GPA in business from Arizona State in 3.5 years. After completing his master's in sports administration at Memphis in just over a year, he is currently pursuing a doctorate in liberal studies.

This season, White led Memphis to an 8-3 record. He capped his stellar collegiate career earning 2020 Montgomery Bowl MVP honors. White ranked sixth nationally with 3,380 passing yards and fifth with 31 passing touchdowns.

Just the second Memphis quarterback to reach the 10,000-yard passing mark, White is the Tigers' all-time leading passer with 10,690 career yards, a total that also ranks second all- time in American Athletic Conference history.

He also holds the Memphis and conference record for career passing touchdowns (90). White's 28 wins as a starting quarterback are the most in Tigers history while his 769 completions are second in school annals. Memphis and the NFF held a Zoom call hosted by NFF Vice Chairman Jack Ford and featuring comments from White and Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield followed by a Q&A with the media. The full replay is above.

Brady White was also honored as the 2020 recipient of the Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda during ESPN's virtual "The Home Depot College Football Awards" on Jan. 7. His full interview with Holly Rowe can be seen above. Brady White was recognized as the 2020 recipient of the Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda on the jumbotron at Hard Rock Stadium during the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 11 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Christian Wilkins, a proud member of the Campbell fraternity who won the trophy in 2018 at Clemson, captured the moment during the game in a video that can be seen here.

Saban’s Teams Immortalized on Historic MacArthur Bowl for a Record Seventh Time

The NFF recognized the historic moment that occurred last week, saluting Nick Saban on winning his seventh national championship, the most in major college football history. The names of his teams now appear on the fabled NFF MacArthur Bowl National Championship Trophy for a record seven times.

The NFF has presented the MacArthur Bowl National Championship Trophy since 1959. Named in honor of early NFF leader General Douglas MacArthur, the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory."

Following Alabama's 52-24 victory over Ohio State Jan. 11 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, Saban passed another Alabama legend, College Football Hall of Fame Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, for the most national titles in major college football history. Bryant amassed six national titles at Alabama.

With the win, Alabama has now claimed the MacArthur Bowl for an unprecedented 10th time. The Crimson Tide won the MacArthur Bowl in 1961, 1978 and 1979 under coach Bryant, in 1992 under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Gene Stallings, and in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and now 2020 under Saban. The win gives Saban, who also won the MacArthur Bowl as the head coach of LSU in 2003, his seventh overall national title, breaking the tie with coach Bryant for the most by a major college coach.

2001 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Jon Arnett Passes Away

Jon Arne, a 2001 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who played halack at Southern California from 1954-56, passed away Jan. 16 of heart failure in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He was 85.

Excelling as both a running back and punt and kickoff returner, Jon "Jaguar" Arne earned his nickname for his acrobatic agility (honed as a gymnast growing up) and elusiveness as a ball carrier.

Arne made first team all-conference in 1955-56 and was an All-American in 1955. A three-year starter, he led the Trojans in rushing, scoring, punt returns and interceptions as a sophomore, and then led the team in rushing, total offense, scoring, kick returns and punt returns as a junior.

As a senior co-captain in 1956, Arne played just half the season due to conference penalties against the Trojans, but he still finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting. He rushed for 625 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per rush while leading Troy in scoring (43 points), and he even threw a touchdown pass.

The NFF Salutes the College Football Leadership on the 2020 Season

The NFF salutes all those who played a critical role in 2020 during the pandemic to ensure that the players, coaches and fans had the opportunity to experience the game in safe environments.

"The college football community just concluded the most challenging football season in our lifetimes as the global pandemic has impacted every aspect of life," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "This summer, the college football season appeared uncertain, but as the fall approached the leaders of our sport rallied. They found ways to address health and safety concerns, and thanks to their herculean efforts and many sleepless nights, the season happened, albeit with a few twists and turns.

"It's been truly remarkable, and everybody has had to make sacrifices. The players, the coaches, administrators, parents, fans, bowl organizers, medical staff, all top a truly endless list of people who made the season happen. We especially want to salute the 10 commissioners in the FBS and the leadership of the College Football Playoff and the bowl games for all they did to create experiences for the student-athletes who play our game, many for their coveted final senior seasons, while realizing there were countless others who had to sit on the sidelines because of the pandemic." Newly announced 2021 College Football Hall of Fame electee C.J. Spiller has been named the running backs coach at his alma mater Clemson. (FanNation)

College Football Hall of Famer and 1997 Campbell Trophy® recipient Peyton Manning(Tennessee) and NFF Chairman and Hall of Famer Archie Manning (Mississippi) team up with Ascension St. Vincent for heart health. (Tristate Homepage)

Northwestern head coach Pat Figerald, a College Football Hall of Fame inductee as a player and a member of the NFF Board, will lead the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2021 as president of the organization. (AFCA)

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 15 Modern-Era finalists for its Class of 2021, including College Football Hall of Fame inductee and 1997 Campbell Trophy® recipient Peyton Manning (Tennessee); College Football Hall of Fame inductee and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Tony Boselli (Southern California); and College Football Hall of Fame inductees Torry Holt (NC State), Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech), Sam Mills (Montclair State [NJ]), Zach Thomas (Texas Tech) and Charles Woodson (Michigan). The Class of 2021 will be announced Feb. 6, the night before Super Bowl LV. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

College Football Hall of Famer Ty Detmer (BYU) has been named the head football coach and athletics director at American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek in Arizona. (USA Today)

2009 Campbell Trophy® recipient Tim Tebow (Florida)'s first children's book was inspired by his late dog Bronco and Make-A-Wish kids. (