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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Jerry Azumah '99 Named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class
1/14/2026 4:37:00 PM | Football
IRVING, Texas – Jerry Azumah, star running back for the University of New Hampshire football team from 1995-98, was named to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The announcement was made during "College Football Live presented by Great Clips" on ESPN2.
"Being acknowledged in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame 2026 Class is truly humbling," Azumah said. "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, whose name was on the ballot for the first time, is included among the 18 players and four coaches in the Class of 2026. He was selected from a national ballot that consisted of 79 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players from all other divisions.
Azumah becomes the first player and second person in Wildcat history to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, joining his coach, Bill Bowes, who was inducted in 2016.
"Jerry Azumah is certainly the best football player I ever worked with," Bill Bowes said. "He could cut. He could accelerate out of the cut. He could catch. He could do it all and he never missed a game. I can't say enough about him. He's certainly deserving of the honor. I'm extremely happy for him and his family.
"He was a great football player, but he was probably a better person than a football player," Bowes added. "He was a very popular player and was invited to Pop Warner practices a number of times, and he never declined an opportunity. He always took time to give back to the community. It's an award that is merited."
In the Class of 2026, Azumah is 1 of 4 players who was named to multiple All-America First Teams and 1 of 10 who was a unanimous First Team selection. He is also 1 of 8 who won a college football major award, among the 11 who was a conference Player of the Year and also among the 12 who was a member of a conference championship team – 1 of 6 who won multiple conference titles.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Clas wil officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE to buy tickets.
The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
"We are thrilled to celebrate Jerry Azumah's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, a truly historic achievement for both Jerry and the University of New Hampshire," UNH Director of Athletics Allison Rich said. "Jerry's record-breaking career as a Wildcat, his success in the NFL, and his unwavering commitment to community service exemplify the very best of college athletics. We are proud to call him a Wildcat for Life and look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone."
Azumah, a native of Worcester, Mass. who graduated in 1999 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Justice Studies, was the 1998 recipient of the Walter Payton Award that honors the top offensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. He was also a recipient of the 2024 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes distinguished former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of the end of their intercollegiate athletics eligibility.
Azumah became the first player in FCS to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in four consecutive years, and he broke two FCS records with 6,193 rushing yards and 8,376 career all-purpose yards.
Azumah still holds the following school records at New Hampshire: single-game rushing yards (329), rushing yards in a season (2,195), career rushing yards, single-game carries (53), season carries (343), career carries (1,045), single-game rushing touchdowns (five), career rushing touchdowns (60), and career all-purpose yards.
He tallied 25 career 100-yard rushing games in 41 games, which means he topped 100 yards in 61 percent of his games. Azumah finished with nine games of 200 or more yards, including a pair that surpassed 300, and averaged almost 6.0 yards per carry in his four years as a Wildcat.
In his 1998 senior season, Azumah was named a unanimous All-American, All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection (preceded CAA Football), ECAC All-Star, New England Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year.
That season saw him shatter conference- and school- season records with 343 carries for 2,195 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 247.8 all-purpose yards per game and eclipsed 200 rushing yards five times. Azumah broke his own school record with a career-high 329-yard rushing performance with five touchdowns against Hofstra University.
Azumah was named AFCA All-America First Team as a kick returner and All-America Second Team (Associated Press, The Sports Network) at running back as a junior. He was tabbed an ECAC All-Star, Gold Helmet recipient, All-Atlantic 10 Conference and All-New England First Team. He led the conference and ranked sixth in the nation with 1,585 rushing yards on 271 carries with 17 touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Azumah was named All-ECAC, All-New England, and All-Yankee Conference (precursor to Atlantic 10) First Team. He was named Yankee Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the season's ECAC Gold Helmet recipient. He led the conference in rushing (1,308 yards), scoring (126 points) and all-purpose yards (2,109).
In 1999, he became one of the first recipients of UNH's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award that is given to New Hampshire student-athletes who excel both in athletic competition and the classroom, and possess great sportsmanship and character, and a passion for sports.
In 2005, Azumah was inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his highly-successful UNH career, Azumah was a fifth-round NFL draft pick by the Chicago Bears and spent seven seasons (1999-2005) in the league as a defensive back and kick returner.
Azumah, in his first season with the Bears, received the prestigious Brian Piccolo Award, which is given by teammates to a player exemplifying courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication.
Azumah played in 105 games with the Bears and made a Pro Bowl appearance in 2003, when
he led the league in kickoff returns with a 29-yard per return average and two touchdowns. He became the first Wildcat to ever earn a Pro Bowl appearance, and in that game set the record for return yards with 228 and also recovered a fumble.
His NFL career statistics include 48 starts, 384 tackles, 10 interceptions, 29 passes defended, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
When the 2026 Hall of Fame Class is officially inducted in December, only 1,129 players and 241 coaches will have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.86 million who have played or coached the game during the past 157 years. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played/coached the game have earned this distinction.
Founded in 1947, The NFF & College Hall of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951.
2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class
PLAYERS
COACHES
*Deceased
"Being acknowledged in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame 2026 Class is truly humbling," Azumah said. "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, whose name was on the ballot for the first time, is included among the 18 players and four coaches in the Class of 2026. He was selected from a national ballot that consisted of 79 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players from all other divisions.
Azumah becomes the first player and second person in Wildcat history to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, joining his coach, Bill Bowes, who was inducted in 2016.
"Jerry Azumah is certainly the best football player I ever worked with," Bill Bowes said. "He could cut. He could accelerate out of the cut. He could catch. He could do it all and he never missed a game. I can't say enough about him. He's certainly deserving of the honor. I'm extremely happy for him and his family.
"He was a great football player, but he was probably a better person than a football player," Bowes added. "He was a very popular player and was invited to Pop Warner practices a number of times, and he never declined an opportunity. He always took time to give back to the community. It's an award that is merited."
In the Class of 2026, Azumah is 1 of 4 players who was named to multiple All-America First Teams and 1 of 10 who was a unanimous First Team selection. He is also 1 of 8 who won a college football major award, among the 11 who was a conference Player of the Year and also among the 12 who was a member of a conference championship team – 1 of 6 who won multiple conference titles.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Clas wil officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE to buy tickets.
The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
"We are thrilled to celebrate Jerry Azumah's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, a truly historic achievement for both Jerry and the University of New Hampshire," UNH Director of Athletics Allison Rich said. "Jerry's record-breaking career as a Wildcat, his success in the NFL, and his unwavering commitment to community service exemplify the very best of college athletics. We are proud to call him a Wildcat for Life and look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone."
Azumah, a native of Worcester, Mass. who graduated in 1999 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Justice Studies, was the 1998 recipient of the Walter Payton Award that honors the top offensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. He was also a recipient of the 2024 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes distinguished former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of the end of their intercollegiate athletics eligibility.
Azumah became the first player in FCS to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in four consecutive years, and he broke two FCS records with 6,193 rushing yards and 8,376 career all-purpose yards.
Azumah still holds the following school records at New Hampshire: single-game rushing yards (329), rushing yards in a season (2,195), career rushing yards, single-game carries (53), season carries (343), career carries (1,045), single-game rushing touchdowns (five), career rushing touchdowns (60), and career all-purpose yards.
He tallied 25 career 100-yard rushing games in 41 games, which means he topped 100 yards in 61 percent of his games. Azumah finished with nine games of 200 or more yards, including a pair that surpassed 300, and averaged almost 6.0 yards per carry in his four years as a Wildcat.
In his 1998 senior season, Azumah was named a unanimous All-American, All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection (preceded CAA Football), ECAC All-Star, New England Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year.
That season saw him shatter conference- and school- season records with 343 carries for 2,195 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 247.8 all-purpose yards per game and eclipsed 200 rushing yards five times. Azumah broke his own school record with a career-high 329-yard rushing performance with five touchdowns against Hofstra University.
Azumah was named AFCA All-America First Team as a kick returner and All-America Second Team (Associated Press, The Sports Network) at running back as a junior. He was tabbed an ECAC All-Star, Gold Helmet recipient, All-Atlantic 10 Conference and All-New England First Team. He led the conference and ranked sixth in the nation with 1,585 rushing yards on 271 carries with 17 touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Azumah was named All-ECAC, All-New England, and All-Yankee Conference (precursor to Atlantic 10) First Team. He was named Yankee Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the season's ECAC Gold Helmet recipient. He led the conference in rushing (1,308 yards), scoring (126 points) and all-purpose yards (2,109).
In 1999, he became one of the first recipients of UNH's Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award that is given to New Hampshire student-athletes who excel both in athletic competition and the classroom, and possess great sportsmanship and character, and a passion for sports.
In 2005, Azumah was inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his highly-successful UNH career, Azumah was a fifth-round NFL draft pick by the Chicago Bears and spent seven seasons (1999-2005) in the league as a defensive back and kick returner.
Azumah, in his first season with the Bears, received the prestigious Brian Piccolo Award, which is given by teammates to a player exemplifying courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication.
Azumah played in 105 games with the Bears and made a Pro Bowl appearance in 2003, when
he led the league in kickoff returns with a 29-yard per return average and two touchdowns. He became the first Wildcat to ever earn a Pro Bowl appearance, and in that game set the record for return yards with 228 and also recovered a fumble.
His NFL career statistics include 48 starts, 384 tackles, 10 interceptions, 29 passes defended, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
When the 2026 Hall of Fame Class is officially inducted in December, only 1,129 players and 241 coaches will have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.86 million who have played or coached the game during the past 157 years. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played/coached the game have earned this distinction.
Founded in 1947, The NFF & College Hall of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951.
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)
*Deceased
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