There are 113 colleges and seven junior colleges represented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and when the list of 15 finalists is pared this coming weekend, Jackson State University could see its third player enshrined in Canton. Jackie Slater, who starred for 20 years with the Rams and is second to Tennessee’s Bruce Matthews in consecutive games played by an offensive lineman (259), could join Lem Barney and former teammate Walter Payton as Jackson State alums to be honored. Notre Dame leads all schools with players enshrined and has two more among this year’s finalists. A look at colleges with the most players, where the athletes nominated this year went to school, members’ birthplace by state, and the ones born in Mississippi:
TOP COLLEGES
8: Notre Dame
7: Southern Cal
6: Alabama
6: Illinois
6: Ohio State
5: Michigan
5: Southern Methodist
5: Syracuse
5: Oregon
THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES
Notre Dame: Dave Casper, Nick Buoniconti
Southern Cal: Ron Yary, Lynn Swann
Jackson State: Jackie Slater
Arkansas: Dan Hampton
Texas A&M: Lester Hayes
Syracuse: Art Monk
Penn State: Mike Munchak
Alabama A&M: John Stallworth
Florida: Jack Youngblood
South Carolina State: Harry Carson
TOP STATES IN HALL
24: Texas
23: Pennsylvania
19: Ohio
12: Illinois
11: California
9: New York
8: Wisconsin
MISSISSIPPI FAMERS
Lem Barney, Gulfport
Willie Brown, Yazoo City
Frank Kinard, Pelahatchie
Walter Payton, Columbia
Billy Shaw, Natchez
Jackie Smith, Columbia
Source: NFL.
Chicago Tribune.
