Fansided

30 colleges with the most Pro Football Hall of Famers

By Nicholas Ian Allen

8 Oct 1988: Quarterback Troy Aikman of the UCLA Bruins drops back to pass during a game against the Oregon State Beavers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won the game 38-21.
8 Oct 1988: Quarterback Troy Aikman of the UCLA Bruins drops back to pass during a game against the Oregon State Beavers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won the game 38-21. /
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Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, Ohio State or Michigan? Which college football program has produced the most Pro Football Hall of Fame players?

As a general rule, if a player is good enough, NFL scouts, general managers and other talent evaluators will find him. Therefore, a Pro Football Hall of Fame player can come from anywhere.

It should come as no surprise that Notre Dame, which has the second highest winning percentage in NCAA’s Division 1-A/FBS level and claims 11 national championships, has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners and 97 consensus All-Americans, would also send more than a dozen players to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Similarly successful programs like Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and USC also rank highly on the list of colleges with the most Hall of Fame alumni.

There are plenty of surprises, however. For instance, the same number (4) of Pro Football Hall of Famers have attended Morgan State as Texas. Also, Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M-Kingsville) has produced more Hall of Fame players (3) than Texas A&M (1). Of course, SMU (5) and TCU (3) also have more Hall of Famers than the Aggies.

On another note, more members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame attended the University of San Francisco (5) — a school that no longer plays football — than all but one current SEC program (Alabama). The same can be said for historically black colleges Grambling State (4) and Morgan State (4).

Which school has sent the most players to Canton? And which surprises remain? We explore the college football programs that have produced the most Pro Football Hall of Fame players.

Aug 21, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks prior to the ribbon cutting for the Ford Center at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks prior to the ribbon cutting for the Ford Center at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Arkansas, 3

Lance Alworth, WR

One of the most productive receivers in NFL history, Lance Alworth propelled a College Football of Fame career into an 11-year NFL career in which he caught 542 passes for 10,266 yards from 1962-72. Alworth led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns three times each. A seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, Alworth ranks No. 15 on the NFL all-time list with 85 touchdown receptions. His No. 19 jersey has been retired by the Chargers, and Alworth was also a member of the Super Bowl VI champion Dallas Cowboys.

Dan Hampton, DL

Selected No. 4 overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Bears, Hampton played his entire 12-year career in Chicago. A defensive tackle and defensive end, Hampton was a four-time Pro Bowler and four-time first team All-Pro selection. Hampton won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1982, was selected to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, and helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX.

Jerry Jones, Owner

Co-captain of the 1964 national championship squad at Arkansas, Jerry Jones is best known as the owner, president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989 and Dallas has won three Super Bowl titles under his direction. He was recently elected as a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class.

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