Former University of New Hampshire star Jerry Azumah was announced Wednesday as a member of the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame class.
“Being acknowledged in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame 2026 Class is truly humbling,” Azumah said in a statement. “I’m thankful to my parents for their unwavering support, and to the teammates, coaches, and staff who shaped my journey and challenged me to be better on and off the field.”
Azumah, a Worcester native who played at UNH from 1998-98, was the first FCS player to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in four consecutive seasons. He was the 1998 recipient of the Walter Payton Award that honors the top player in FCS. He also broke two FCS records with 6,193 rushing yards and 8,376 career all-purpose yards.
Azumah still holds nine UNH football school records, including single-game rushing yards (329) and rushing yards in a single season (2,195). He finished with 25 career 100-yard rushing games in 41 total games at UNH.
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Azumah played seven seasons in the NFL for the Bears from 1999-2005, playing in 105 games as a defensive back and kick returner. He had 10 career interceptions and two kick return touchdowns.
He is the second person from UNH to enter the Hall of Fame after former coach Bill Bowes was inducted in 2016.
Among the other notable inductees are Mark Ingram, the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy, and Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald, two of the most fearsome defensive linemen of their era.
Founded in 1947, The NFF & College Hall of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951.
The full list of selections is below.
2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class
PLAYERS
- Jerry Azumah, RB (1995-98) – University of New Hampshire
- Ki-Jana Carter, RB (1991-94) – Penn State University
- Bruce Collie, OT (1981-84) – University of Texas at Arlington
- George Cumby, LB (1976-79) – University of Oklahoma
- Aaron Donald, DT (2010-13) – University of Pittsburgh
- Marvin Harrison, KR/WR (1992-95) – Syracuse University
- Garrison Hearst, RB (1990-92) – University of Georgia
- Chris Hudson, DB (1991-94) – University of Colorado
- Mark Ingram, RB (2008-10) – University of Alabama
- Olin Kreutz, C (1995-97) – University of Washington
- James Laurinaitis, LB (2005-08) – Ohio State University
- Jordan Lynch, AP/QB (2010-13) – Northern Illinois University
- Herman Moore, WR (1988-90) – University of Virginia
- Terence Newman, CB (1999-2002) – Kansas State University
- Bob Novogratz, OG (1957-58) – United States Military Academy
- Ndamukong Suh, DT (2006-09) – University of Nebraska
- Peter Warrick, WR (1996-99) – Florida State University
- Eric Weddle, S (2003-06) – University of Utah
COACHES
- Jim Margraff: 221-89-3 (71.1%) – Johns Hopkins University [MD] (1990-2018)
- Gary Patterson: 181-79-0 (69.6%) – Texas Christian University (2000-21)
- Chris Petersen: 147-38-0 (79.5%) – Boise State University (2006-13); University of Washington (2014-19)
- Ken Sparks: 338-99-2 (77.2%) – Carson-Newman University [TN] (1980-2016)
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