Two of Penn State’s all-time great running backs hope to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as members of the Hall of Fame class of 2025. The vote, which was released by the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation, includes former Penn State running backs Ki-Jana Carter and DJ Dozier. Each may be hoping that the third time is the charm for their hall of fame chances.
Carter and Dozier are appearing on the hall of fame ballot for the third consecutive season. Each player was on the ballot in 2022 along with former Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny. All three players returned to the ballot in 2023 for the class of 2024, but only Posluszny received enough votes to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2024. Posluszny became Penn State’s 27th all-time College Football Hall of Fame inductee and joined former Nittany Lions like Kerry Collins, LaVar Arrington, John Cappelletti and Joe Paterno.
Carter has a chance to join former teammate Kerry Collins. Carter was a first-team All-American during Penn State’s undefeated 1994 season and ended his Penn State career as one of the program’s all-time top defenders. Carter was runner-up to 1994 Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam of Colorado and a finalist for the Maxwell Prize, won by Collins. Carter capped off his career by earning co-MVP honors in the 1995 Rose Bowl victory over Oregon with 156 rushing yards, highlighted by a memorable 83-yard touchdown on Penn State’s first offensive play.
Carter went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent a total of 10 years in the NFL.
Dozier was also a first-team All-American at Penn State in 1986. He is the only player in school history to lead the Nittany Lions in rushing for four consecutive seasons and was a key offensive cog in Penn State’s 1986 national championship. . It was Dozier who scored Penn State’s game-winning touchdown in its upset victory over No. 1 Miami in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl.
The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class will be announced in early 2025.
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