Six individuals who once represented Mississippi universities will be considered for a possible spot among the most iconic figures in college football history.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame have announced potential inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, including 77 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 101 players and 34 coaches from the divisional ranks.
“Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the College Football Hall of Fame inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits,” said NFF chair Archie Manning, an Ole Miss graduate and 1989 Hall of Fame inductee. “There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport.”
At the FBS level, the following players and coach, all from Ole Miss, could have their names etched in the history books as icons in one of the nation’s most popular sports:
- Terrence Metcalf — The former offensive lineman out of Clarksdale played with the Rebels from 1998-2001, and was a consensus First-Team All-American and two-time First-Team All-SEC performer during his time in Oxford. He was dubbed the SEC’s Most Valuable Lineman by the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club in 2001 and served as a leader of an Ole Miss unit that allowed the fewest sacks in the conference his final two seasons. The Chicago Bears took Metcalf in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and he played for nine seasons which included one Super Bowl appearance, a 29-17 loss to the Colts in 2007. Metcalf, the father of Seattle Seahawks standout D.K. Metcalf, currently serves as head coach at Coahoma Community College.
- Michael Oher — Another notable big man from Ole Miss, Oher spent four seasons from 2005-08 in Oxford where he was a First Team All-American and finalist for the Outland Trophy. The three-time All-SEC performer and recipient of the 2008 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the conference’s best blocker started 47 consecutive games in college. Oher, currently in a legal battle against the Tuohy family, was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 23rd pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. The left tackle spent eight seasons in the NFL, playing for three different teams. He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2013.
- Tommy Tuberville — Once a fan-favorite head coach at Ole Miss from 1995-98, Tuberville ended his time with the Rebels on rocky terms when he departed for Auburn less than a week after saying he would have to be carried out of Oxford in a “pine box.” Tuberville was with the Tigers from 1999-2008, then went on to coach at Texas Tech for the 2010-12 seasons, and made his final stop at Cincinnati from 2013-16. In 2004, Tuberville, who now serves as a Republican U.S. Senator, won National Coach of the Year as he led Auburn to a perfect 13-0 record.
In addition to those listed above, the following trio of Mississippi Valley State standouts also have a shot at entering the ranks among the most notable players in the history of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS):
- Ashley Ambrose — A standout defensive back with the Delta Devils, Ambrose achieved First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SWAC honors during his four years in Itta Bena. He was also named SWAC Defensive Back and Return Specialist of the Year in 1991 and led the nation in punt returns during his senior campaign. Ambrose was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft and spent his career in the league as a journeyman, making stops with the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Kansas City Chiefs. After his 12-year stint in the pros, Ambrose has had multiple coaching and advisory roles at both the collegiate and professional levels. He was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2023.
- Vincent Brown — A stellar linebacker out of MVSU, Brown was a First-Team All-American, leading the NCAA in tackles in 1986 and 1987. He set an NCAA record with 570 career tackles and was a two-time All-SWAC selection who led MVSU in tackles his last three seasons. Brown was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft and spent the next seven seasons in Foxborough. He now serves as head coach at NC A&T.
- Parnell Dickinson — A trailblazer at the quarterback position paving the way for future Black signal-callers to have success at the position, Dickinson was a First-Team All-American and Pittsburgh Courier National Player of the Year while in Itta Bena. In addition, he was a four-time All-SWAC selection and Conference Player of the Year as a senior. He finished his career as the SWAC’s all-time leader in total offense with 7,442 yards, a record that has since been broken. Dickinson was the first quarterback ever drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, taken in the seventh round of the 1976 NFL Draft.
The announcement of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made early next year, with specific details to be announced at a later date.
