UNH's Jerry Azumah part of 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class
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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 and College Hall of Fame on Jan. 14.
“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.”
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
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 Live and look forward to honoring this incredible milestone.”
Azumah still holds many UNH records
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.
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’s NFL career with the Chicago Bears
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.
Founded in 1947, The NFF & College Hall of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951.
Other members of this year’s Hall of Fame class
- 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
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH’s Jerry Azumah part of 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class
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