College Football Hall of Fame: Ricky Williams, Zach Thomas to be inducted

Two former Miami Dolphins players were among the announced inductees for the College Football Hall of Fame this week. Running back Ricky Williams will be recognized for this career at the University of Texas and linebacker Zach Thomas, who was a standout at Texas Tech, will both be enshrined at the National Football Foundation's awards dinner in December.

Williams, who played for the Dolphins for seven seasons between 2002 and 2010 during which time he was named to the Pro Bowl and was a First Team All-Pro when he led the league with 1,853 rushing yards in 2002, was a four-year starter at Texas, playing from 1995-1998. He led the NCAA in rushing yards in 1997 and 1998, and finished his career as the all-time leading rusher with 6,279 yards (since surpassed by Wisconsin's Ron Dayne). He also led the NCAA in rush attempts and rushing touchdowns in thos 1997 and 1998 seasons, as well as racking up Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Consensus All-American honors, and the Doak Walker Award for both seasons. He also won the 1998 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the 1998 Maxwell Award.

Williams finished fifth in the 1997 Heisman Memorial Trophy voting before winning it in 1998. He finished his career holding 21 NCAA records and 46 school records.

Thomas, a fifth round pick of the Dolphins in 1996, was too small to play linebacker in the NFL, but spent 13 seasons in the league, 12 with Miami, and was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time First Team All-Pro selection. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1992 to 1995, Thomas recorded 390 tackles, currently the fifth most in a college career, with six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions.

Thomas was a consensus All-American in 1995, the consensus Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995, and a finalist for the 1995 Butkus Award (won by Kevin Hardy, Illinois).

The full list of inductees is:

Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth
Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig
Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Rugen Brown
Florida split end Wes Chandler
Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood
Yale running back Dick Jauron
Michigan state halfback Clinton Jones
Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy
Michigan running back Rob Lytle
Marshall quarterback Michael Payton
Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still
Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder
Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
Ohio State head coach (former) Jim Tressel
Texas running back Ricky Williams

The induction ceremony will take place December 8 in New York City.