Former Penn State football players Ki-Jana Carter, D.J. Dozier, and Paul Posluszny were named to the College Football Hall of Fame’s ballot for the Class of 2024, the National Football Foundation announced Monday.
It’s all three of the nominees’ second nomination in as many years.
Carter, hailed as one of the top running backs in all of college football during the 1990s, amassed 2,829 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns during his three seasons at Penn State. During the 1994 season, Carter finished second in Heisman Trophy voting and was named the MVP at the 1995 Rose Bowl.
Dozier’s Penn State career spanned from 1983 to 1986 and he scored 25 touchdowns on 3,227 rushing yards. Dozier was the first member of a Penn State backfield to lead the team in rushing in four consecutive seasons. During the 1986 season, Dozier led the Nittany Lions to a perfect 12-0 record and a national championship.
Posluszny, a two-time first-team All-American during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, ranks second in Penn State history with 372 tackles. The linebacker also had two interceptions during his career, including one that was returned for a touchdown. Posluszny was also the recipient of the 2005 Butkus Award, which is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.
Penn State currently has 25 former players and coaches that have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. LaVar Arrington was most recently inducted in 2022.
To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, players must have received first-team All-America recognition by a selector that is recognized by the NCAA, played their last season of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years, and had 10 full seasons after their final year of intercollegiate play. Along with on-field accomplishments, a player’s post-football record as a citizen is also taken into consideration.
Members of the National Football Foundation have until June 30 to vote on this year’s class, which will be announced in early 2024. A total of 78 players and nine coaches are on the ballot, which can be viewed in full here.
