Champ Bailey named to College Football HOF
Former Georgia star cornerback Champ Bailey, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, and former Heisman Trophy winning running back Rashaan Salaam of Colorado headline the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class announced Tuesday.
Bailey stood out at cornerback with eight career interceptions but also played receiver and was a return specialist for Georgia from 1996-98. He was a first-round pick by Washington in the 1999 NFL Draft and was a 12-time Pro Bowler during 15 seasons with Washington (1999-2003) and the Denver Broncos (2004-13). Bailey had 52 career interceptions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Luck was Heisman Trophy runner-up in both 2010 and 2011 and passed for 9,430 yards and 82 touchdowns in three seasons at Stanford. Luck was the No. 1 overall NFL draft choice by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 and was a Pro Bowl selection four times during a sevenyear career.
Salaam rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1994 during his Heismanwinning campaign, his third and final one at Colorado. He was a first-round pick by
the Chicago Bears but was unable to find stardom in the NFL. The former eightman high school star in San Diego shot himself to death in 2016 at age 42.
Also selected for induction were Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington (1997-99), Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree (2007-08), Alabama center Sylvester Croom (197274), Ohio State safety Mike Doss (1999-2002), Toledo quarterback Chuck Ealey (1969-71), LSU running back
Kevin Faulk (1995-98), Illinois defensive tackle Moe Gardner (1987-90), Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby (2001-04), Oregon State receiver Mike Hass (200205), Florida State linebacker Marvin Jones (1990-92), Michigan defensive tackle Mark Messner (1985-88), Oklahoma State running back Terry Miller (1974-77), Alcorn State center Dennis Thomas (1971-73), Nebraska offensive tackle Zach Wiegert (1991-94) and Oklahoma
defensive back Roy Williams (1999-2001).
Three coaches also were selected: John Luckhardt, who went 225-70-2 at Washington & Jefferson (PA) from 1982-98 and California (PA) from 2002-11; Billy Jack Murphy, who went 91-441 at Memphis from 195871; and Gary Pinkel, who went 191-110-3 at Toledo (1991-2000) and Missouri (2001-15).
“We are extremely proud to announce the 2022 College
Football Hall of Fame Class,” said Archie Manning, National Football Foundation Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Ole Miss. “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 inducted on Dec. 6 at a location to be announced.