The College Football Hall of Fame has 25 former Penn State players and coaches enshrined in Atlanta, Georgia.
Two more Nittany Lions seek to add that distinction in former running back Ki-Jana Carter and defensive end Courtney Brown.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names on the 2026 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. Including Carter and Brown are 79 total players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Carter was an unanimous First Team All-American selection in 1994, finishing runner up to Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam for the Heisman Trophy. During Carter’s 1994 season, he racked up a Big Ten leading 1,539 yards, 7.8 yards per carry, and had 23 rushing touchdowns – second most in Penn State history behind Lydell Mitchell’s 26 in 1971.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Brown was a terror in opposing offenses’ backfields during his time at Penn State racking up a school record 70 tackles for losses and sacks with 33. Brown’s 1999 season earned him unanimous First Team All-American status setting Penn State records for tackles for loss with 29 and, at the time, had the second most sacks in a season in Penn State history with 13.5. In 2011, the Big Ten named its Defensive Lineman of the Year award after Brown and Michigan State’s Bubba Smith.
The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced.
