Warrick Dunn elected for induction in College Football Hall of Fame

Warrick Dunn, the legendary running back out of Baton Rouge who starred at Florida State before a long and successful NFL career, is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame. The 2024 was announced Monday.

The Catholic High of Baton Rouge product who was born in New Orleans won a national championship in 1993 with Florida State where he was named All-ACC three times. Dunn was the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft by Atlanta, fittingly where the College Football Hall of Fame is lcoated.

Dunn was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He is also in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

CFB HALL OF FAME RELEASE:

(edited from National Football Foundation press release)

Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn is part of the 22-member Class of 2024 of the College Football Hall of Fame announced Monday.

One of the most electrifying players in college football history, Dunn became the first Florida State player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons while leading the Seminoles to the 1993 national title. The Louisiana native now becomes the ninth Florida State player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.

Selected as a First Team All-American in 1996 by the Football Writers Association of America and a Third Team selection in 1995 by the Football News, Dunn finished his career as the Seminoles’ all-time leader in career touchdowns scored (49), career all-purpose yards (5,321), career rushing yards (3,959), career rush average (6.9 ypp), career 100-yard games (22), single-season rushing yards (1,242 in 1995) and single-season rush average (7.5 ypp in 1995). During his career in Tallahassee, he rushed 575 times for 3,959 yards and 37 touchdowns while catching 132 passes for 1,314 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dunn finished fifth in the 1996 Heisman Trophy voting and ninth in 1995.

A three-time First Team All-ACC selection, he led the league with 8.7 ppg during the 1995 season, and he finished his career ranked sixth in ACC history with 3,744 rushing yards. Helping the Noles capture four-consecutive ACC crowns, he led the team to a 31-1 conference record during career, and he was named a member of the ACC All-Academic Team in 1996.

Playing for Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden, FSU went 43-5-1 during Dunn’s career, never finishing ranked lower than No. 4. In 1993, the team went 12-1, capping the season with an 18-16 victory over No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to claim the national title. In 1994, FSU went 10-1-1, finishing the season with a 23-17 win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl and a final No. 4 AP ranking. In 1995, the Noles produced a 10-2 record, including a 31-26 victory over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and landing at No. 4 in the final AP Poll. During Dunn’s senior season, the Noles went 11-1, appearing in the Sugar Bowl against Florida and finishing at No. 3 in the polls.

A first round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft (12th overall) by the Buccaneers, Dunn played 12 seasons in the NFL for Tampa Bay (1997-01, 2008) and the Atlanta Falcons (2002-07). He was the 1997 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he made the Pro Bowl three times. He was named the 2004 Walter Payton Man of the Year, the NFL Byron Whizzer White Man of the Year in 2008 and NFL Bart Starr Award recipient in 2009.

Known for his prolific philanthropic work, Dunn founded Warrick Dunn Charities and the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation. Its flagship program, Homes for the Holidays, has awarded more than $2 million in furnishings and $500,000 in down-payment assistance to more than 200 single-parent families. His charitable work earned him the Heisman Humanitarian Award in 2010, and he earned NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 2022. He also holds a minority stake in the Atlanta Falcons.

Dunn is a member of the Louisiana and Georgia sports halls of fame.

The full Class of 2024, which will be formally inducted in December:

PLAYERS

• Justin Blackmon – WR, Oklahoma State (2009-11)
• Paul Cameron – TB, UCLA (1951-53)
• Tim Couch – QB, Kentucky (1996-98)
• Warrick Dunn – RB, Florida State (1993-96)
• Armanti Edwards – QB, Appalachian State (2006-09)
• Deon Figures – CB, Colorado (1988, 1990-92)
• Larry Fitzgerald – WR, Pittsburgh (2002-03)
• Toby Gerhart – RB, Stanford (2006-09)
• Dan Hampton – DT, Arkansas (1975-78)
• Steve Hutchinson – OG, Michigan (1997-2000)
• Antonio Langham – CB, Alabama (1990-93)
• Randy Moss – WR, Marshall (1996-97)
• Julius Peppers – DE, North Carolina (1999-2001)
• Paul Posluszny – LB, Penn State (2003-06)
• Dewey Selmon – NG, Oklahoma (1972-75)
• Alex Smith – QB, Utah (2002-04)
• Kevin Smith – CB, Texas A&M (1988-91)
• Chris Ward – OT, Ohio State (1974-77)
• Danny Woodhead – RB, Chadron State [NE] (2004-07)

COACHES

• Mark Dantonio – 132-74-0 (64.1%): Cincinnati (2004-06), Michigan State (2007-19)
• Danny Hale – 213-69-1 (75.4%): West Chester [PA] (1984-88), Bloomsburg [PA] (1993-2012)
• Frank Solich – 173-101-0: Nebraska (1998-2003), Ohio (2005-2020)