Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022

The Black College Hall of Fame announced their 13th Class - the Class of 2022. The seven inductees were selected from a list of 29 finalists who were determined by the BCFHOF selection committee. Votes were tallied by the 10-member selection committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL general managers and executives, and members of the BCFHOF to determine the inductees. 

BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee Doug Williams:

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2022. These men should feel proud of this honor. They have been voted some of the best to ever play, coach, or contribute to Historically Black College and University.”

The Class of 2022 will be inducted during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Ceremony and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 18, 2022. The ceremony takes place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The Class of 2022 will make their first public appearance at the HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Class of 2022:

Ben Coates (Player)

Tight End … Livingstone College (1987-1990) … Finished his college career with 103 receptions, 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns … Selected by the New England Patriots in the 1991 NFL Draft … New England Patriots (1991-1999) … Five-time Pro Bowler … Two-time All-Pro … Baltimore Ravens (2000) … Super Bowl XXXV Champion … Born August 16, 1969. 

Donald Driver (Player)

Wide Receiver … Alcorn State University (1995-1998) … Finished his college career with 88 receptions for 1,993 yards … Five-time “Athlete of the Year” … Selected by the Green Bay Packers 7th round of the 1999 NFL Draft … Green Bay Packers (1999 - 2012) Four-time Pro Bowler … Super Bowl XLV Champion … Green Bay Packers franchise leader for receptions and yards … Born February 2, 1975.  

John “Big Train” Moody (Player)

Running Back … Morris Brown College … Black College National Champion (1940) … Moody accumulated 290 total points and set a record for black college football players which stood until 1948 … All-American … Born 1917 … Died 1995. 

Nate Newton (Player)

Offensive Lineman … Florida A&M University (1979-1982) … All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tackle (1980) … Washington Football Team (1983) … Tampa Bay Bandits (1984-1985) … Dallas Cowboys (1986-1998) … Six-time Pro Bowler (1992-1996, 1998) … Two-time All-Pro … Carolina Panthers (1999) … Born December 20, 1961.

Roscoe Nance (Contributor)

The Clarion Ledger's first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) reporter, the paper's first black sportswriter and a journalist later known around the country as the dean of black college sportswriters 1978–1985 … USA Today Sports Writer 1986-2007 … Founding Member of and President of the SWAC Alumni Association … Born December 8, 1948 … Died January 9, 2020. 

William “Billy” Nicks (Coach)

Coach … Morris Brown College 1930-1935, 1937-1939, 1941-1942; Prairie View A&M University 1945-1957 and 1952-1965 … His record at Morris Brown was 65–21–13 … His 1941 team was named "Black College National Champions" by Pittsburgh Courier …  His career record at Prairie View A&M University was 126–36–8, the winningest coach in school history … Nicks led the Panthers to five black college national titles and six Southwestern Athletic Conference titles … Born August 2, 1905 … Died November 2, 1999. 

Sammy White (Player)

Wide Receiver … Grambling State University (1972-1975) … First-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection (1973) and (1975). As a senior, White caught 37 passes for 802 yards and 17 touchdowns… Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft … Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year … UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year award … Two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1976 and 1977… Minnesota Vikings (1976–1985)… 128 career games, 393 receptions, 6,400 receiving yards, and 50 touchdowns.… Born March 16, 1954. 

***

The headliner of the Class of 2022 for me is Sammy White. The Minnesota Vikings have a strong receiver tradition. White is a big part of that tradition. He immediately exceeded whatever expectations there were for him as a rookie. He took the league by storm on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. He was the second of four (should’ve been five) Vikings receivers to grab the honor. He was a favorite of mine from his first game. With Ahmad Rashad on the other side of the field, the Vikings had their first great receiver duo. 

Sammy White joins Greg Coleman as consecutive Vikings legends to be inducted to the Black College Football Hall of Fame. 

Congratulations to the seven new members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.