Black College Football Hall Of Fame | Class Of 2024

The "Magnificent Seven" of the greatest black college football players will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

HOUSTON - The 'Magnificent Seven" of the greatest black college football players will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2024. The Black College Football Hall of Fame's Class Of 2024 will be a who's who of collegiate excellence from the SWAC, MEAC, and HBCU independents.

"This Class of 2024 is a great showcase of the some of the incredible football talent that has been produced from Historically Black Colleges and Universities," said Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. "The Black College Football Hall of Fame serves to honor those who paved the way for the game today, and these men did just that."

The Black College Football Hall of Fame - Class Of 2024

1. Joe "747 Adams (Tennessee State University),
2. Antoine Bethea (Howard University),
3. Waymond Bryant (Tennessee State University),
4. Kevin Dent (Jackson State University),
5. Richard Huntley (Winston-Salem State University),
6. Lemar Parrish (Lincoln University) and
7. Coach Eddie Hurt (Morgan State University).

Tennessee State coach John Merritt, center, is talking with quarterback Joe Adams (17) during a timeout. The Tigers won a 30-13 homecoming victory over Southern University Oct. 28, 1978. Credit: © Frank Empson / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

JOE "747" ADAMS Quarterback, Tennessee State University (1977-1980)

• Ranks second at Tennessee State in Career Passing Yards (8,653).
• Record as a starter was 25-7.
• Threw for 30 touchdowns in 1980 and 75 in his career.
• Selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 12th round of the 1981 NFL draft.
• Played in the Canadian Football League (Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Rough Riders.

Nov 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea (41) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Colts 40-11. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

ANTOINE BETHEA Defensive Back, Howard University (2002-2005)

• Earned a spot on the Urban Radio Network Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-American Team.
• Earned 1st team All-American honors by NFL Draft Report his senior year at Howard.
• Taken by the Indianapolis Colts in the 6th round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
• Played for the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals & New York Giants.
• Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts (XLI).
• Inaugural Black College Football Player of the Year (2017).

Jan. 21, 1974; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee State coach John Merritt, left, and three senior members of his football team display just a sampling of the trophies and plaques that were presented at a Testimonial Dinner honoring the Tigers at the Airport Hilton Jan. 21, 1974. Honorees with Coach Merritt are linebacker Waymond Bryant, defensive end Ed (Too Tall) Jones and offensive tackle Gregory Kindle. Mandatory Credit: Jimmy Ellis-USA TODAY NETWORK

WAYMOND BRYANT Linebacker, Tennessee State University (1970-1973)

• Born July 7th, 1952, in Dallas, Texas.
• Associated Press Little All-American (1972, 1973)
• Selected in the 1st round (4th overall) in the 1974 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

Kevin Dent, Jackson State

KEVIN DENT Defensive Back, Jackson State University (1985-1988)

• Only Jackson State Player to be named a 3x All-American.
• 21 Career Interceptions.
• 2x SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2006).

Dec 9, 2001; Orchard Park, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Carolina Panthers running back Richard Huntley (34) carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK

RICHARD HUNTLEY Running Back, Winston-Salem State University (1992-1995)

• Rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons at WSSU.
• Ended his college career ranked second all-time in NCAA history with 6,286 yards rushing.
• Was the CIAA’s career scoring leader with 372 points on 62 touchdowns.
• Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 117th pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

Cornerback Lemar Parrish and was one of the Bengals' cornerstones that helped the team run off a seven-game winning streak and a division title following a 1-6 start to the season. Ab 20111022 Spt02 110210807 35; Credit: © The Enquirer/Ran Cochran via Imagn Content Services, LLC

LEMAR PARRISH Defensive Back, Lincoln University of Missouri (1966-1969)

• Set Lincoln University record for most punt return yards in a single game.
• Selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL draft.
• Also played for the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills.
• Ended his 13-year career with 47 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries.
• 3x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro, 8x Pro Bowl Selection.
• Returned 131 punts for 1,205 yards, 61 kickoffs for 1,504 yards and scored a combined 13 touchdowns.

Coach Edward Hurt

EDWARD HURT Head Coach, Morgan State University (1929-1959)

• Compiled a record of 173-67.
• Won 14 CIAA Championships.
• Won 6 Black College National Championships.
• Went undefeated from 1932-1939.

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The seven inductees were selected from a list of 28 Finalists introduced by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.

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

The Class of 2024 will be honored at the 15th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 8, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hall of Famers will also be recognized at halftime of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 24, 2024, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA, broadcast live on NFL Network (3:00 pm CT). For more information, please visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org