Black College Football Hall Of Fame Announces Induction Of Six HBCU Legends

Six inductees were selected from a list of 28 Finalists for the honor.

Class of 2025 / Credit: Black College Football Hall of Fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced its 16th Class today – the Class of 2025. Six inductees were selected from a list of 28 Finalists who had been determined earlier by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes… Henry Dyer (Grambling State University), Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman University), Jacquay Nunnally (Florida A&M University), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State University), Jay “Sky” Walker (Howard University) and Coach Fred “Pop” Long (Wiley College).

“What we have with the Class of 2025 is an incredible showcase of the talent that has come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities over the years,” said Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. “When the Black College Hall of Fame was established, its purpose was to do just this, elevating and recognizing the past, present, and future of Black College Football. Congratulations to the Class of 2025.”

Votes were tallied from the 9-member Selection Committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, and historians, as well as former NFL General Managers and executives, and from members of the BCFHOF to determine the Inductees.

The Class of 2025 will be honored at the 16th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 7th, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia.

They will also be recognized at halftime of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 22, 2025 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA, which will be broadcast live on NFL Network (3:00pm CT).

Class of 2025 / Credit: Black College Football Hall of Fame

Class of 2025

HENRY DYER

• Grambling State University’s first 1,000-yard rusher
• Named first team All-SWAC from 1963-65
• Led the nation in scoring (110 points)
• Drafted in the 4th Round of the 1966 NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams

RASHEAN MATHIS

• Three-time All-MEAC First-Team honoree (2000, 2001 and 2002)
• 2002 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year
• Holds the FCS record for most interceptions in a career (31) and season (14)
• Holds the FCS record for most yards on interception returns in a career (682) and season (455)
• Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars
• He still holds several franchise records with the Jaguars including: career interceptions (30), career interception return yards (512), career defensive touchdowns (3) and career passes defended (99)

JACQUAY NUNNALLY

• Three-time football Division I All-American
• Second all-time in NCAA Division I FCS football record books in career pass receptions with 317 for 4,239 yards and 38 touchdowns
• Four-time All-MEAC First-Team honoree (1997-2000)
• Named Black College Football Player of the Year in both 1998 and 2000

DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE

• Three-time first team All-OVC
• FCS All-American (2007)
• In his 39 starts for Tennessee State, opposing quarterbacks completed just 55 of 161 passes (34.16%) thrown near Rodgers-Cromartie
• Drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals

JAY “SKY” WALKER

• Two-time First Team All-MEAC selection
• Selected as MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1993
• Led the Bison to an undefeated season en route to winning MEAC and Black College National Championships
• Passed for 3,324 yards in 1993, which ranks as the second-highest single-season total in MEAC history
• Drafted in the 7th round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots

FRED “POP” LONG

• Led Wiley College to SWAC titles in 1923, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1944, 1945, 1956, and 1957
• Wiley College won the Black College Football National Championship in 1928, 1932 and 1945
• In his 35 seasons, he led Wiley to 189 victories
• Coached 27 All-Americans
• Long won 224 games in 43 years with additional stops at Paul Quinn College, Prairie View A&M University and Texas College

About the Black College Football Hall of Fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 by African-American pioneers, quarterbacks James Harris and Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been over 100 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) has a permanent home at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) to tell the story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

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