The 2020 College Football Hall of Fame has been announced, and former Ohio State running back Keith Byars has finally made the cut.
Byars played for the Buckeyes under the late head coach Earle Bruce from 1982-1985. He had a bruising running style and soft hands out of the backfield. He nearly won the Heisman Trophy in 1984, finishing second behind Boston College’s Doug Flutie.
That year, Byars set a program record for all-purpose yards with 2,441. Most of the damage was done on the ground with what was, at the time, a program record of 1,764 yards. He also found the end zone 22 times that season.
Going into 1985, Byars was a preseason Heisman favorite but suffered a fracture in his foot and was never fully healthy. At his peak though, he was one of the toughest runners to bring down and had underappreciated speed for a back his size.
He makes the 26th Ohio State player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
I am honored and blessed to join this club. pic.twitter.com/7Y4VE7rILP
— Keith Byars (@KAB41) March 11, 2020
Byars will be going into the Hall of Fame with the following players.
- Lomas Brown — offensive tackle, Florida (1981-84)
- Eric Crouch — quarterback, Nebraska (1998-2001)
- Eric Dickerson — running back, Southern Methodist (1979-82)
- Glenn Dorsey — defensive tackle, LSU (2004-07)
- Jumbo Elliott — offensive tackle, Michigan (1984-87)
- Jason Hanson — kicker, Washington State (1988-91)
- E.J. Henderson — linebacker, Maryland (1999-2002)
- E.J. Junior — defensive end, Alabama (1977-80)
- Steve McNair — quarterback, Alcorn State (1991-94)
- Cade McNown — quarterback, UCLA (1995-98)
- Leslie O’Neal — defensive tackle, Oklahoma State (1982-85)
- Anthony Poindexter — defensive back, Virginia (1995-98)
- David Pollack — defensive end, Georgia (2001-04)
- Bob Stein — defensive end, Minnesota (1966-68)
- Michael Westbrook — wide receiver, Colorado (1991-94)
- Elmo Wright — wide receiver, Houston (1968-70)
This is well past due and well earned from one of the greatest Ohio State running backs to ever suit up in the scarlet and gray.
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