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Leslie Frazier one of the eight inductees selected in Black College Football Hall of Fame

peter holland jr., the repository
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ATLANTA – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced its Class of 2023 on Thursday.

The eight-man class was selected from 25 finalists by the BCFHOF Selection Committee.

The following inductees include Leslie Frazier (Alcorn State), Henry “Killer” Lawrence (Florida A&M), Albert Lewis (Grambling State), Jim Marsalis (Tennessee State), Tyrone McGriff (Florida A&M), Elijah Pitts (Philander Smith College), Johnnie Walton (Elizabeth City State), and Coach Pete Richardson (Southern, Winston Salem State).

“This Class is another representation of the immense football talent that has played at historically black colleges and universities,” Doug Williams, BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee said in his press release. “Several of these players were college All-Americans, high NFL draft picks and Pro Bowlers.”

The 2023 class will be honored at the 14th annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, June 10, 2023, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The Inductees also will be acknowledged during halftime of the second HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 25, 2023, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. The Legacy Bowl will be televised live on NFL Network.

Here's a look at the BCFHOF Class of 2023:

Leslie Frazier

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier walks on the field before a game against the Houston Texans, on Oct. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier walks on the field before a game against the Houston Texans, on Oct. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Defensive Back … Alcorn State University (1978-80) … Recruited to Alcorn State by BCFHOF Inductee Marino Casem … All-SWAC first team … NAIA All-District Team … 1979 SWAC championship … Signed as free agent by the Chicago Bears (1981-85) … Two-time Super Bowl champion (Chicago Bears, Super Bowl XX, as a player; Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLI, as a coach) … Played 65 career NFL games with 20 interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns and one sack … Born April 3, 1959.

Henry “Killer” Lawrence

Henry Lawrence (70) was drafted by Oakland Raiders coach John Madden in the first round of the 1974 draft.
Henry Lawrence (70) was drafted by Oakland Raiders coach John Madden in the first round of the 1974 draft.

Offensive Lineman … Florida A&M (1971-73) … 1974 Senior Bowl participant … Selected in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders … Played with the Raiders for 13 seasons (1974-86) … Three-time Super Bowl champion (XI, XV, XVIII) … Two-time Pro Bowler … FAMU Sports Hall of Fame … Born Sept. 26, 1951.

Albert Lewis

Albert Lewis, defensive back, 1983-98
Albert Lewis, defensive back, 1983-98

Defensive Back … Grambling State (1972-75) … All-SWAC … Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft … Kansas City Chiefs (1983-93) … Oakland Raiders (1994-98) … Four-time Pro Bowler … Two-time first-team All-Pro … 482 career tackles, 42 interceptions, 12.5 sacks and one TD … Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame …  Born Oct. 6, 1960.

Jim Marsalis

Defensive Back … Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) … (1965-68) … 1968 CFB All-American … Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1969 AFL Draft … Kansas City Chiefs (1969-75) … New Orleans Saints (1977) … 1969 AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year … Super Bowl IV Champion (1970) … Two-time Pro Bowler … For his career, Marsalis intercepted 15 passes for 116 yards, made six fumble recoveries and one sack … Born Oct. 10, 1945.

Tyrone McGriff

Offensive lineman Tyrone McGriff (61) of the Pittsburgh Steelers blocks during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Three Rivers Stadium on Dec.14, 1980. McGriff played college football at Florida A&M University.
Offensive lineman Tyrone McGriff (61) of the Pittsburgh Steelers blocks during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Three Rivers Stadium on Dec.14, 1980. McGriff played college football at Florida A&M University.

Offensive Lineman … Florida A&M (1976-79) … Led Florida A&M to an 11-0 season and starred on the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA national championship team … Three-time All-America (1977-79) … Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 12th round of the 1980 NFL Draft … Played three seasons in the NFL and three in the USFL … Born Jan. 13, 1958.

Elijah Pitts

A Chicago Bears player attempts to stop Green Bay Packers running back Elijah Pitts (22). The Packers defeated the Bears 49-0 on Sept. 30, 1962, at New City Stadium, later renamed Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wis.
A Chicago Bears player attempts to stop Green Bay Packers running back Elijah Pitts (22). The Packers defeated the Bears 49-0 on Sept. 30, 1962, at New City Stadium, later renamed Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wis.

Halfback … Philander Smith College (1977-1979) … Selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 13th round of the 1961 NFL Draft … Green Bay Packers (1961–69, 1971) … Los Angeles Rams (1970) … New Orleans Saints (1970) … 11-year NFL veteran … Specialized in returning punts and kickoffs while playing both running back positions … Quickly became captain of special teams under head coach Vince Lombardi … Born Feb. 3, 1938.

Johnnie Walton

Quarterback … Elizabeth City State (1965-68) … Four-year starting quarterback … All-CIAA Team his senior year, completing 114 of 204 passes for 1,400 yards and 16 TDs … Led the Vikings to an 8–1 record. … Signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent … Los Angeles Rams (1969-72) … Philadelphia Eagles (1976-79) … Inducted into the ECSU Hall of Fame on Oct. 25, 1985 … Born Oct. 4, 1947.

Coach Pete Richardson

Coach … Winston-Salem State (1988-92) Southern University (1993-2009) … Compiled a record of 169–76–1… Won three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championships … During his 17 years as head coach at Southern, the Jaguars football teams won five Southwestern Atlantic Conference Championships, including a three-peat from 1997-99 … Four black college national titles (1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003) … Four Heritage Bowl titles … 12-5 in the Bayou Classic … Born Oct. 17, 1946.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Leslie Frazier among Black College Football Hall of Fame 2023 class