Black College Hall of Fame Finalists

On Thursday the Black College Hall of Fame announced the 25 finalists for their Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The list includes 22 players and three coaches.

PLAYER FINALISTS (22 Players)

• Joe “747” Adams (QB, Tennessee State University, 1977-1980)
• Coy Bacon (DL, Jackson State University, 1964-1967)
• Dwaine Board (DE, North Carolina A&T State University, 1975-1978)
• Emerson Boozer (RB, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1962-1965)
• Harold Carmichael (WR, Southern University, 1967-1970)
• Raymond Chester (TE, Morgan State University, 1966-1969)
• Hugh Douglas (DE, Central State University, 1991-1994)
• Earl “Air” Harvey (QB, North Carolina Central University, 1985-1988)
• Thomas Henderson (LB, Langston University, 1971-1974)
• James Hunter (DB, Grambling State University, 1972-1975)
• Henry Lawrence (OL, Florida A&M University, 1970-1973)
• Greg Lloyd (LB, Fort Valley State University, 1983-1986)
• Leo “Lincoln Locomotive” Lewis (RB, Lincoln University, 1951-1954)
• Frank Lewis (WR, Grambling State University, 1967-1970)
• Robert Mathis (LB, Alabama A&M University, 1999-2002)
• Tyrone McGriff (OL, Florida A&M University, 1976-1979)
• Timothy Newsome (RB/KR, Winston Salem State University, 1976-1979)
• John Taylor (WR, Delaware State University, 1982-1985)
• Everson Walls (DB, Grambling State University, 1977-1980)
• Johnny Walton (QB, Elizabeth City State University, 1965-1968)
• Erik Williams (OL, Central State University, 1987-1990)
• Roynell Young (DB, Alcorn State University, 1976-1979)

COACH FINALISTS (3 Coaches)

• Bill Hayes (Head Football Coach, Winston Salem State 1976-1987, North Carolina A&T 1988-2003)
• Arnett “Ace” Mumford (Head Football Coach, Jarvis Christian 1924-1926, Bishop College 1927-1929, Texas College 1931-1935, Southern University 1936-1961)
• Joe Taylor (Howard University 1983, Virginia Union 1984-1991, Hampton University 1992-2007, Florida A&M University 2008-2012)

The Class of 2018 Inductees will be announced on October 25, 2017. They will be honored during the Black College Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on February 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Black College Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 by former Grambliing quarterbacks and quarterbacking pioneers Doug Williams and James Harris. The goal is to preserve the rich history and honor the greatest players, coaches, and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. College football is better because of those colleges. It's a damn shame that there was ever a need for them.