Kevin Faulk named to 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 10, 2022) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class during “Championship Drive Presented by Capital One” on ESPN.
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IN DEPTH: The LSU roster mess Brian Kelly is tasked to fix (premium)
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2022 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
PLAYERS:
· LaVar Arrington – LB, Penn State (1997-99)
· Champ Bailey – DB, Georgia (1996-98)
· Michael Crabtree – WR, Texas Tech (2007-08)
· Sylvester Croom – C, Alabama (1972-74)
· Mike Doss – S, Ohio State (1999-2002)
· Chuck Ealey – QB, Toledo (1969-71)
· Kevin Faulk – AP/RB, LSU (1995-98)
· Moe Gardner – DT, Illinois (1987-90)
· Boomer Grigsby – LB, Illinois State (2001-04)
· Mike Hass – WR, Oregon State (2002-05)
· Marvin Jones – LB, Florida State (1990-92)
· Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford (2009-11)
· Mark Messner – DT, Michigan (1985-88)
· Terry Miller – RB, Oklahoma State (1974-77)
· Rashaan Salaam – RB, Colorado (1992-94)
· Dennis Thomas – C, Alcorn State (1971-73)
· Zach Wiegert – OT, Nebraska (1991-94)
· Roy Williams – DB, Oklahoma (1999-2001)
COACHES:
· John Luckhardt – 225-70-2 (76.1%); Washington & Jefferson [PA] (1982-98), California [PA] (2002-11)
· Billy Jack Murphy – 91-44-1 (67.3%); Memphis (1958-71)
· Gary Pinkel – 191-110-3 (63.3%); Toledo (1991-2000), Missouri (2001-15)
The 18 First Team All-America players and three standout coaches in the 2022 Class were selected from the national ballot of 78 players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, the 99 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks and the NFF Veterans Committee candidates.
“We are extremely proud to announce the 2022 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 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6 (location TBD).
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.
The announcement of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class was made today during “Championship Drive Presented by Capital One” leading up to tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
“We want to thank ESPN for the opportunity to announce the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class during today’s lead up to the College Football Playoff National Championship,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Today’s announcement shines a light on the accomplishments of some of college football's greatest legends."
KEVIN FAULK
Louisiana State University
All-Purpose/Running Back, 1995-98
The epitome of an all-purpose player, Kevin Faulk remains the SEC’s leader in career all-purpose yards and LSU’s all-time leading rusher. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native becomes the 11th Tiger player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
A 1996 First Team All-American as an all-purpose player, Faulk still holds the all-time SEC record with 6,833 all-purpose yards, a mark that was fourth in FBS history when he finished his career. During that 1996 season, he led the SEC in all-purpose yards and ranked second in the league in rushing. Faulk followed up his All-America campaign by leading the SEC in rushing during both his junior and senior seasons, and he also topped the league in scoring as a senior. The three-time First Team All-SEC selection was the first player in LSU history to average more than 100 yards per game during his entire career.
Setting 11 school records by career’s end, Faulk still holds LSU career marks for rushing yards (4,577), rushing touchdowns (46), all-purpose yards (6,833) and 100-yard rushing games (22). The 1995 SEC Freshman of the Year ranks fourth in the conference in career rushing yards and is tied for third in career rushing touchdowns. A two-time LSU MVP, Faulk led the Tigers to two top-15 final rankings and three bowl victories, earning offensive MVP honors following the 1995 Independence Bowl after setting LSU bowl records with 234 rushing yards and 271 all-purpose yards. Faulk owns LSU’s single-game all-purpose yards record (376 vs. Houston, 1996), and ranks fifth in school history with 832 punt return yards. He is also a member of the LSU Athletics and State of Louisiana Sports halls of fame.
Taken in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Faulk spent his entire 13-year career with the franchise. The 2016 New England Patriots Hall of Fame inductee led the team to three Super Bowl titles (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX), and he holds the franchise record for career all-purpose yards.
Following his pro career, Faulk served as an assistant football coach from 2013-17 at his former high school, Carencro High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. He then served on the coaching staff at his alma mater, LSU, from 2018-21. He annually hosts a free youth football camp in Louisiana, and he founded the Kevin Faulk Foundation to support youth. He is the cousin of 2017 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Marshall Faulk from San Diego State.